Chapter_Eleven

I feel

Intriguing?

But.

Nerve-grating.

She peered up at him, one eye squinted, and fumed. "What's the word? Ah, verbose. Well, ain't ya just feeling so verbose today? You sort of put the verb in verbose, if you know what I mean. And if you don't-for god's sake Shikamaru, couldn't you have made the story a bit shorter?"

Shikamaru smirked and leaned against the wall, hands stuck in his pockets. "No."

Ino let out a frustrated shriek. "Ah! Gods. Doesn't the word summary ring a bell?"

"Not particularly, no."

Ino huffed, scoffed and turned on her heel, melodramatically strutting off, but Shikamaru knew she was only going to the kitchen, which wasn't far so-

-he waited a few seconds before following after her. He found her at the sink, cutely washing the dishes like a housewife already and she tensed up, one eye sturdily falling on his figure before she clipped both eyes close and stuck her nose in the air, feigning anger and tenaciously washing the dishes.

Shikamaru shot her an amused look. "You might break them this way."

"So? My dishes. My business. Problem?"

"I thought you were making dinner."

"I am."

"Not really," he commented casually, waltzing over and taking one dish from her hand, grasping it between two fingers and looking her in the eye. "This way, you're just making a mess."

Ino stared back-then flushed a scarlet shade of red. "Shut up."

"Heh… Anyway, I'll make the dinner," he announced and-had but a second to relish in her astounded gasp before she was gently shoved aside, both hands dripping wet and astonishment in her eyes.

"What? Shikamaru, I'm not a cripple, I'm only pregnant," she said, hands on her hips.

"And you're already starting to show."

"So? Doesn't mean a thing."

"I'm helping. Out of my own desire. Is that bad?"

"Not particularly, no," she drawled out, mimicking his previous reply, to which Shikamaru grinned and for a while the trickling of the water filled the room.

And after that while was over, Ino's voice mingled with worry resounded around. "But knowing you're doing it to get your mind off other matters is slightly disconcerting, if not insulting. I'd like to think I'm good enough to garner Shikamaru's full attention, not just be that distraction he uses for the time being before he runs out of patience and runs off to chase after demons again."

Shikamaru's hands halted in the air, hovering above the sink. A window overlooked the kitchen, positioned directly in front of him with the beautiful, quaint sky above Konoha allowing some sunlight to stream inside. His eyes landed on one peculiar cloud, lingered there for one unforgivable moment, before he looked down at the running water.

"You're not a distraction. I want to be here."

"Lies. You always do this."

"I'd like to think I'm a man enough to decide for myself who I want to spend my time with. And if I, for once, just genuinely prefer your company over anyone's, who is to tell me otherwise?"

Several minutes later, the water was stopped and all dishes neatly laid side by side dripped wet over the ragged clothing underneath them. Shikamaru reached out to wipe his hands into it-and a towel was placed onto the palm of his left hand.

Ino then gave him a sympathetic smile, only a few marks of indignation marring her eyes. "You can be such an ass, Shikamaru."

Not knowing what else to say – not really thinking this moment to require any commentary –, Shikamaru grinned and accepted the towel.

"You said before you weren't to attend the meetings any longer, right?"

"Right," she replied and sat down, looking bored for a change. "Tsunade-sama and Sakura just freaked out, told me I should relax instead of working, that it could harm the baby. It's like-come on, I'm not some fragile flower, I can take care of myself. And the baby."

Shikamaru frowned. "I think it's you being the single mother that has them concerned this much. Otherwise they wouldn't be making much of it, and while it's not uncommon, it's not considered right if a mother is left alone to fend for herself and the child."

Ino growled and leaned back in a very un-lady-like way, legs spread a bit and nonchalance in the posture. "Jeez, it's not like it's their business anyway. I know what I'm doing," she added sourly, getting a mild look of discomfort from Shikamaru. "What? It's true."

"Uh-huh. Yeah. Have you told them the truth you?"

"What truth?"

He shuffled closer and leaned lazily against the table, its hard edge digging into his hip. "About the baby father."

Ino blinked and laughed, making a dismissive gesture with her hand. "Oh, no. They still think you're the father. Which is like-you kidding me? That's ridiculous. Know what I mean?"

"Of course."

A nod.

She seemed much persuaded.

Until the moment she realized he was only the guy who'd been coming over to help her with chores in the past two weeks – unbeknownst to those she apparently trusted with such things.

At least, Shikamaru suspected this exact idea crossed her mind and surely the redness on her cheeks signalized something, or otherwise he'd proclaim himself a fool and never try reading minds again.

But Ino looked deceptively coy and he knew he'd gotten it right. "Well, okay. But that doesn't count, right?"

"You could just tell them, you know, it's no biggie. I mean, you did tell me and not Sakura, which does sound strange…"

"Oh, shush, you." She shrugged him off and finally crossed one leg over the other. "It's so insane anyway. If I told them they'd freak out because it appears they're only looking for a reason to. Which I honestly don't get… We have a situation here and all they can do is just project and why-why, for heaven's sake, pick me? Ugh, I can't do this. I just want go out and kick someone's ass and rip them a new one. Is that such a bad thing?" Afterwards, she gave Shikamaru a pleading look that made him feel uncomfortable in all kinds of ways.

Women. They never stop being scary. Just kind of grow into it.

He pulled at his collar, yanking it from his neck and gulping down fresh air. "Ah. Yeah. No, it's alright, I get it. They can't help it, I guess. Looking for new and innovative ways to pardon their ever-increasing level of… of who knows what."

"Hmp. So you told them the same thing like me?"

Shikamaru blinked at her. "Of course."

"See, how did they react?" she chirped cutely, leaning forward to prop her face on her hands. "Clueless as me?"

"Yeah, but that was to be expected. It is just the beginning, after all. Granted, to think that was the start of everything…"

"What do you mean?"

He sighed and pulled a chair for himself to sit on, the body of his seeking at least some level of comfort for a change if the mind would be awarded none whatsoever. "It's just that I remember it, you know? That day. I never thought much of it, never exactly pegged it as important, but when Naruto started talking, I realized I knew where it was going. It only proves what an ignorant fool I was but-I'm not asking for sympathy, Ino, it's alright,"-he added swiftly just as she was to interrupt him with a share of her wisdom,-"-but the point is that I remembered something, too."

She settled back. "Hm?"

Thinking back to that day so far away came to him with a strange ease and though the imagines of grayscale stood out from the rest, clear they still were and in them Shikamaru sought the answers. "It's strange… What Naruto told me was what he knew. And what he didn't tell me – is what he still isn't aware of. Because I, for an instance, know that he was out for three days and the whole time Sasuke didn't leave his side. Not even once."

Into the saucers her eyes widened and like a fish she gaped. "Not even once?"

"No. I'm not even joking… I know I dropped that guy like a hot potato when I realized I'd spent too much chakra on the fight to carry him upstairs, but then I was taking too long to find the antidote Sakura had provided for us just in case and I remember-I was starting to flounder about and panic, but then-there and then, the Uchiha just walked into the room with Naruto in his arms… I remember…" Having nothing else to do, Shikamaru permitted himself to smile. "I actually froze for a moment-because bridal style? It was so strange."

"Oh… Wow."

An indulging listener, wasn't she? Shikamaru rolled his shoulders back. "Yeah."

"Are you sure Sasuke didn't leave Naruto's side?"

"Ah, maybe I should have clarified."

"Hm?"

He didn't know why, but right then he shot Ino a cocky, petulant smile, as if knowledgeable of what was to come next-"Sasuke did not move from the post for the whole duration of Naruto's short-lived coma."

Ino almost jumped to her feet. "Eh? The whole time-that is, okay. Didn't he, you know? Shower, er, stuff?"

"Not that I'm aware of."

"Okay, mildly torn here?" Ever so expressive, she made a grimace and lifted both hands palms up, mimicking a scale, moving to either side every few seconds with confusion gnawing on her mind. "Should I be disgusted, should I be impressed?"

Shikamaru wanted to laugh. "You forgot confused."

"Why?"

"Well, wasn't Naruto's whole story based on the fact they hated each other? But clearly, such a thing isn't freely given to your enemy, less alone to someone you supposedly hate with passion as Naruto liked to claim."

"Oh, I see. That is true… And that really does make me confused. But how? How and why did Sasuke-wait, did you tell Naruto?"

"All this?"

"Yeah?"

"Ever or before?"

"Either? Both."

He wanted to groan. "No, I never did. Before, when I saw it, I just didn't understand a thing and seeing as I knew no answer would present itself to me, working with how secretive and guarded Sasuke was back then, a thing that's yet to change, just by the way, I gave up on the memory entirely, until Naruto's story brought it back. And I didn't tell him because it might mean a thing. Or not. I don't know. For once, I really don't know a thing. But I just get this feeling that won't leave me…"

"Feeling," echoed the woman, her eyes almost glued to his face as she surveyed him with the fascination she'd only ever held for the stars.

But fearing that he'd dwell on that too hard, he pushed it back and nodded, grim. "Yeah. Feeling. Just something that tells me it means something… A piece of puzzle, I guess, but there's just one and one isn't enough to work with. I need more."

"What did Naruto say?"

"Step by step, one story at a time. I'm not going to squeeze him for more, all depends on him, so until then we need to be patient."

"I see." An irrefutably understanding, patient woman, she nodded and did not further press the matter.

But her curiosity still seemed to get the best of her and she managed a weak, transient smile that begged for forgiveness and as Shikamaru simply closed his eyes, she eagerly launched on.

"Okay, so how did the others react? I mean, we got the clueless thing down but-"

"Yeah and that's about it." A grim reality, wasn't it? He offered her a smile similarly meek. "They pretty much realized the same thing as I did, so now there's a whole bunch of us genuinely confused and at a complete loss of what to do. But we're trying, stepping out to back him up. For once, we are doing the right thing. I think that's enough to make everyone uncharacteristically patient."

Ino's smile widened. "But you know they're secretly yearning to just shake the truth out of him, eh?"

"Not nearly as secretly as plain openly," he said, voice reeking of jest-

Ino threw her head back and laughed unabashedly. "Typical. But understandable? At either rate, what have you planned for today?"

"Today?" Marvelously astonished, he stared. "Well, get more information out of him but I don't think that will be happening soon and I no longer get assigned on missions so…"

"So you can help me cook lunch?"

"Or cook it for you?"

Ino waggled her eyebrows. "Or sit tight, stay put as I cook and prove I can take care of myself?"

"Really, Ino." Whole-heartedly, he laughed and leaned forward, joining their hands, joining their fingers and letting the tips graze over each other. "I never once doubted that."

She snickered. "Good." And blushed. "Really good! Okay, here I go!" And stood to her feet, spinning around, twirling like a flower fallen from the sky, running to and fro and impossibly red in the face the whole time, never looking directly at him, never looking away at the same time.

Shikamaru fell silent and watched her.

He'd be an idiot and a damned, godforsaken liar to claim he'd never looked at her properly, but the glow around her was compelling far too much this one time and this one time-he willingly let it sweep him off his feet and be the hidden allure of the night.

Tomorrow, he'd continue this twisted story again.

For today, he'd watch his old teammate.

And dream – willingly, understanding of the aftermaths, contradictions and hypocrisy now a part integrated deeply into him – of a world from a long ago when he'd lived in happy oblivion and little understanding, when he had, in a way, felt happy.

And he knew – this would be the very last time he committed to such an action, for the knowledge of the years to have led to this situation preceded all thoughts of survival and self, because he'd regretted his actions too honestly and devoutly to foolishly restart his mistakes again and because-he suddenly didn't see the appeal of ignorance.

Ino yelped in fright, noting a dark creature on the wall, but the creature was squashed with a swift wipe of the spatula and Shikamaru continued to watch, a smile twitching on his lips.

Or maybe tomorrow would come now, maybe he'd be decisive for a change and never once fear of opening himself to this world of truth.

No matter how vulnerable it made him feel.

"Okay, Shikamaru, learned yakisobu at last, I'll make it for you, what do you say?"

"Anything, Ino, you make, I will eat."

Vulnerable under the tight scrutiny of her mirthful eyes too reminiscent of his.

But no matter.

Some color could be found even in the world of black-white.

Because-before he knew it himself, he was standing to his feet, hands grasping hers and leading them over the vegetables she was clumsily cutting, and her ringing laughter filled his ears, the bell of freedom to dispel the dark magic of fright and life placed down on him finally the previous nights.

Together they cooked, together they ate, together they laughed.

At least for one blissful today.

)) ~it_has_come_to_this_too far_soul_to_be_sole~((

"Bam! You're dead. Headshot, pregnant!"

The girl stared back. "… What?"

Kiba sighed. "Oh, never mind."

To his side, Shino was faking oblivion. Kiba scoffed and crossed his hands over his chest. "Never mind, never mind, we were just making sure you're okay, since you got injured by that attack days ago."

A gasp-then the girl blinked and smiled. "Oh, why didn't you say so earlier?"

"Yeah, why, Kiba?" muttered Shino under his breath.

Kiba rolled his eyes. "You people can't appreciate my glorious sense of humor. At any rate-"-he added quickly as Shino seemed to ready another sarcastic remark on his tongue, which was correct-"you appear alright, so we'll be on our way."

She nodded, appearing eager. "Oh, right, bye!"

"Hah. Che," he cursed, turning on his heels, hands stuck in pockets as together with Shino they walked off.

A few moments later, Shino allowed his words of sanctity to ruin the moment. "Kiba, you're restless, is anything bothering you?"

"Me? Nah."

Akamaru barked.

Shino nodded. "I see. You appear disconnected. Would the recent findings be troubling you? Maybe you should have excused yourself when Shikamaru returned with the news."

"News? What news-oh, that. Why would I excuse myself? It's not like Shikamaru returned with anything startling."

"To counter your claim, I recall you flinching when it was brought up Sasuke had guarded over Naruto day and night for three days."

"Not true, pal, not true," muttered Kiba under his breath.

Whether Shino agreed or not remained unknown, as wordlessly they walked on afterwards; at least Shino himself felt no desire whatsoever to be wasting precious time on persuasion, when obviously Kiba didn't want to see it. He'd never been taught the wonders of wasting time, efforts or words on anyone undeserving of that all, so while Kiba continued to fume and look visibly troubled with something, Shino kept to his own thoughts mostly.

It didn't matter that it felt a bit like being on his own, for his bugs kept him company and unlike man known for fickleness, they remained dutifully silent and loyal to their comrade, buzzing softly under his skin and filling his mind with a sense of calm only people of his clan understood.

Granted, he'd have to address the issue of Kiba's petulance sooner or later, given how absurdly unmanageable the man was acting and should he hesitate for any big longer, like a volcano Kiba would erupt and-that would be a nuisance, would it not?

From the corner of his eyes perfectly shielded by the round black spectacles perched up on the nose, he surveyed Kiba's slightly shorter, hunched over figure, noting the obvious discomfort in his step and the way even his dog companion would here and there look at him worriedly.

He would have continued pondering this all over hadn't Kiba actually passed by the building they'd been meant to scan for damage and intruders, which meant he was far too troubled to pay attention to his surroundings and that, in the world of ninja, equaled certain death.

Now, whether believable or not, Shino did worry for the well-being of his friends, and thus he halted in his steps, knowing that while Kiba walked on blindly, he'd eventually notice the absence of his companion which would ensure the moment of privacy and-

Kiba stopped and turned to side. "Huh, Shino?" Then he noticed where his friend had disappeared.

Shino managed a sigh and over to him. "Kiba, I believe we need to consult one particular issue."

"Oh?"

"Yes. It's acting a liability and I'm afraid it could put our lives to risk in a case of leaving it unattended."

"What is it?"

"You." No-nonsense, down-to-earth, curt and direct approach. Shino approved.

Kiba, if his flabbergasted expression stood for anything, did not. "What? I'm the problem? Jeez, man, what's gotten into you?"

Hm, the anger was well-deserved, well-placed and not at all gratuitous. Shino nodded and pointed to the nearby rooftop. "Let's talk over there," he said and the chakra surge to his feet sent him flying high above before he landed precisely in the middle of the unoccupied, arduous rooftop, where soon afterwards Kiba along with Akamaru landed with a loud discontented huff. Again, well-placed.

"So what's that about me being the problem, eh?"

Ah, slight aggravation in his voice. Shino seized him up and down. "I've noticed something is troubling you and believe we should address the matter now."

"There's nothing bothering me," snapped Kiba back.

Shino's brows rose. "Despite that you're reacting with obvious irritation."

"Of course," scoffed Kiba. "Here you are, spreading lies and some nasty rumors about me. Never pegged you as the gossip kind."

"Kiba." Shino stepped forward – and Kiba backed away. If that didn't mean a thing, then he was a blind and foolish man. "What are you talking about?"

"Nothing whatsoever obviously," grumbled the man. "Ah, whatever, this is annoying me. I'm not the source of all problems here, so screw this."

"You're not the source, but you're obviously bothered. I worry for you, friend."

"Worry for me? Hm. Worry means nothing. Look, can we stop this gay charade and just bugger off already?"

"I see. Now I understand what's going on."

"What?"

Obviously, he'd not realized it yet and Shino pondered if he ought to feel privileged he'd be the one to break it to him – or flinch upon realization he was to bring up this delicate matter.

"You've been awfully tense since yesterday night. It's quite obvious what keeps your mind in that disorderly state, turmoil. Kiba." Another step taken forward. This time, obstinate, Kiba did not budge. "Why does the matter of Sasuke and Naruto bother you this much?"

"Hah, bullshit, it doesn't. Now can we just leave?" He turned on his heel and readied for a jump.

Shino couldn't help but look away. "I see. So it is a friend who'll suffer from mistrust, it is your faithful companion to receive the full strength of your blows."

Kiba didn't leave.

Over the edge of the building he hovered, his ever loyal Akamaru gazing up at him sorrowfully and silence welcomed them all, thick with tension that Shino had been aware for a while. Maybe he was to blame for this obvious increasing feud between them, but he'd never felt more enraged with a situation – even if the obvious calm he carried with himself acted more of an evidence to detachment than anything else, and should anyone peel his clothing off, a placated, dispassionate face show.

But despite that all, deep inside, Shino raged on.

For to lose a friend over this – he'd never accept.

And still Kiba hadn't left.

Solemn, Shino watched the other's back, watched the short, brown strands flicker in the wind of the sunny afternoon, watched the man turn around until Kiba's eyes submerged under guilt met his.

Then Shino knew he'd not acted too late.

"No… The friend is not to suffer of that," spoke Kiba slowly, carefully, treading on thin lines and walking towards that friend, until both shared a mutual agreement and trudged towards the nearby wall to lean against it, Akamaru following, confused.

Shino waited-Kiba chewed on his lower lip.

"Sorry, Shino, I didn't mean to snap."

"It's quite alright. I understand your mind is heaved down. That is understandable."

"No, it's freaking not and you know that. My actions are not justified."

Shino blinked. "Yours? Why the emphasis on your actions?"

Kiba shot him a sour look. "Nothing. I just… Look, do you want complete honesty?"

"Always."

"Fine. Truth is." He shifted. "I hate this. I freaking hate this whole thing. And I don't get it. I just… I just don't. It's too much. It's too confusing. And, also… I feel like such an ass but I wish we'd not done a thing."

"What do you mean?"

For a while, Kiba didn't speak and Shino suspected he was weighing the words, considering what to reveal and what not, before the weight of the situation finally rolled off his chest and without filter he launched into a spiteful, frustrated explanation.

"We shouldn't have done a damn thing, that's what I believe. Yeah, that thing between Sasuke and Naruto? I know it sucks, I know I am an ass-I feel like one, but I believe we should have kept ignoring it. Yeah, Kiba wants that very ignorance Shikamaru spoke of with almost tears in his eyes and damn, I'd never seen him look more wrecked than at that moment but I still think we should kept ignoring it. Even if it was ignorance that had started it, I don't care. Because truth is – isn't it? – we had caused it all. If we'd not done a thing, Sasuke would still be around and Naruto would be happy. That's how it is. And there's no denying it. We contributed to the whole circle of bullshit and pain. We caused it, Shino."

Bravely, he spoke of tears in eyes, unaware of own pair glistering just as much.

"You act as if there were no way out, Kiba."

"And is there? There ain't. Because what Sasuke did? You can dislike someone but once you say it, there's no going back. Once those words leave your mouth, there's no turning back. And what he did? He went too far. Just too far. Proved to everyone around he hated Naruto."

"But does he really?"

"Oh, yeah, let's just doubt that. I don't care, actually. Because… Because Sasuke did that and whatever he meant doesn't matter. He… Broke Naruto. And Naruto is now breaking everyone else."

So this is the problem? Shino thought. "You genuinely believe all our actions are for naught."

Kiba swore. "I know I'm a detestable being for saying this, but I genuinely believe we shouldn't have done a damn thing. Sure, the thing they had going on was pretty damn twisted no matter how you looked at it, but it was their thing, their personal business, not ours. What gave us the right to act, huh? Nothing. Just our own problems. It was so easy to look at them and go all – ew, how horrid, instead of looking deep inside and realizing we're all just sick twisted fucks dying of plain envy because we ain't got the same thing. Because." His voice dropped to only a level above inaudible and he lowered his head, as if ashamed. "We all know we could never get anything even remotely similar to that. That… Bond."

Shino looked up at the sky, appearing composed – while his insides twisted in disgust. "Do we have to suffer of the absence of love?"

"Love," repeated Kiba. "Is something I think fails miserably when compared to them. We failed. We screwed up. If we'd continued being ignorant…"

"Sasuke may have still hurt Naruto," added Shino but Kiba awarded him with a scruffy look and a grunt.

"So? At least we'd have been spared this misery. And this… situation. Damn. At least people wouldn't have to get hurt. I wonder how Ino feels."

"Ino?" Unexpected. How did she compute into this? "She's not related to this particular issue."

"Damn straight she is. I mean, she's pregnant and she's a single ma and while she hasn't said a word about her baby daddy, it's all kind of obvious she'll be raising the child all alone."

Though the face perfectly covered, ensuring this the exact look of bewilderment would not show easily, Kiba seemed to note his unease and smirked pointedly.

"You don't get it, do you? I do. Look, she's going to be a mother. Pregnant-what, four or five months in? For the longest time, she loved Sasuke and then she kind of learned to love Naruto. Everyone knew she had this cute crush on our leader, cute and innocent enough we all let it be, and then shit hit the fan and she wasted her days and nights worrying for Sakura and everyone else. And imagine her baby's going to be born into this because, let's be honest, eh? This problem won't get resolved here and now. It's going to take ages, hell, months and in months her baby will be born into a world super unhappy and we know she's sensitive, we know she'll take it to her heart no matter how tough and feisty she is. We know… Children aren't meant to share the suffering of their parents. But the way things are now… She might as well miscarry…"

Softly, Akamaru whined. Shino felt a heavy burden settle on his heart.

Kiba moved off the wall, body in a permanent seizure of agony, slouched over and expression marred by a deep and terrifying grimace of disdain. "And Hinata? Hell, she didn't deserve it. I get it, right? Naruto's hurt. But he hurt Hinata back. He keeps hurting everyone back. Here we are, just trying to set things in order, make things right, worrying our asses off for him because we feel like we'd screwed up, and what is he doing? Locked up in his room, just wallowing in self pity and making everyone feel even worse. We knew he never loved Hinata that way, but that was a low blow. She didn't deserve that."

He gritted his teeth, swallowed hard. "None of that."

And Shino understood.

Kiba averted his eyes. "And I do feel like an ass. Is it wrong I wish we'd ignored it? Should I feel like this?"

"Yes, you should."

"Right. I should. Well, I do, so that's fine."

Shino felt the muscles momentarily tense – before all dissolved and in bliss he stared blankly ahead. "I envy you, my friend."

"Envy?"

"You are the least and yet most involved with this."

"Huh?" Utterly confused, Kiba turned back to stare and Shino acknowledged the pain in his glare.

"True enough, ignorance is wrong, but I understand where you're coming from. We got ourselves involved and now we suffer the consequences and – along the way, ignore everything else. It is wrong to hope for the same mistake to repeat itself, but in no way should you take the blame, Kiba, for your stance right now speaks of more brains than I'd ever seen in a person." At last, Shino could conclude he understood. And also that he admired. His dearest friend for this brave stand he was making for himself. "You have such an enormous amount of compassion for your dear fellow man that it leaves me speechless, but it is admirable, my friend, to see so much strength in one sole man, so much of that directed in all the right places. In that case, you shouldn't feel the least amount of regret for feeling that way, as you are doing the right thing. After all, if we are to only blindly look ahead, blinkered by our belief we are to find the right path, who will cover our backs, tend to our wounds as we step onwards, ignorant, ironically enough, for once, to our surroundings?"

Kiba's confusion didn't falter one bit, but Shino saw the clarity present in his eyes and saw also that at least some of the filth gathered there had been cleaned and wiped away – that at last Kiba was to feel the trademark confidence in self.

"You're saying…"

"You are doing the right thing, Kiba. I can't blame you for that. You are not just looking in one direction, you're doing a lot more anyone could have asked for. In this excruciating time, your voice of reason is just the only pillar of support around. Admirable, truly, to see you not sway under the weight of our mistakes, of their mistakes… It is you who we need the most at the moment."

Silence.

Gratification.

Kiba, well – Shino didn't wish to read minds, but having that option right now would, perhaps, open a new world to him. He wondered how it felt to feel the least bidden and released from the constrictive hold of a chain, and the ponderous thoughts wouldn't leave him be even when Kiba put more considerable distance between them by nearing the edge once more – this time for sure to jump and leave the entirety of the conversation behind.

"I want to go talk to Naruto."

"Why?"

"Because…" Kiba let out a small, mellowed sigh. "I want to shout his ears off and make him apologize to Hinata. Is it wrong?"

Shino made a noncommittal sound, stepping forward to stand right beside Kiba. "You're essentially discarding all we stand for by cruelly requesting that very thing our leader appears incapable of at the moment and you're intending to go there very well aware of the impact your demand will have on Naruto, very well aware it'll only wound him more and make him painfully aware to the path of disarray he's leaving behind, which might just be the stab to his heart he doesn't need at this moment."

Kiba shot him a startled look and Shino nodded.

"It's only as right as it could ever get."

A moment later, Kiba cocked his head to the side, expression speaking of bemusement, but the lips twitching into a hopeful smile.

Shino put a hand on his shoulder. "You have my full support, my friend."

The sun shining above their heads could have been cursed back and forth countless of times in the past, but this time its luminance was greatly welcomed and accepted.

This time they were meant to appreciate it all and bask in its eternal sunlight because Shino knew in his friend he'd found the very source of solace.

In his friend so wrongly accused of treachery and blasphemy, yet in reality as deeply concerned and brimming with those incessant worries all to ensnare his heart.

Kiba's shuddering breath and rueful, beseeching smile were to prove that.

His hand landed on Shino's, holding it there firmly.

"Thank you, Shino. It helped."

Shino could only squeeze the hand back and allow it to slip away. For now. "Whatever else are friends for if not support?"

Yet only for now.

With one last look speaking of "many thanks", both jumped off the building and resumed in their duties, never to look back.

Only for now, my dearest friend.

)) ~it_has_come_to_this_too far_soul_to_be_sole~((

"Tsunade-sama…"

"Do me a favor." She crouched down, hand tracing the foot imprint on the ground.

"Yes?"

"Shut up."

"Oh."

Thankfully, the man knew when to listen, even if his previous obnoxious attitude had suggested otherwise and Tsunade reveled in the silence at last offered to her, even if not on a silver plate. For a moment or two, she immersed herself in a close inspection of the surrounding area, the chirping of the birds around creating a sweet little melody for her ears which she'd not heard properly in years and would, unfortunately, have to ignore even this time.

After a while a man appeared to her right, trudging begrudgingly and a slightly helpless look on his features which she recognized as a sign of failure, and as they came face to face, he shook his head and Tsunade sighed, before letting her own failure show on her face.

"Yamato, so I see even you return empty-handed."

He made a grimace. "Ah, yes. It's unfortunate but the trail has gotten cold. We've got nothing at all. It appears we really won't be able to find the matching seals."

Tsunade sighed. "Yeah. This merely proves how far ahead Sasuke had planned."

"Ah. Should the remaining teams retreat, Tsunade-sama?"

"Huh, it's getting late." Aggravated, she looked up at the sky almost as if to curse the sun for giving them this little time. "Only an hour until sunset. There's no point in searching now, we should get back to Konoha. Call all the teams, the search is postponed until tomorrow, then we'll scout the remaining area."

It wasn't Yamato who ran off, but the other jounin who'd previously done a marvelous job of grating on her nerves; into the bushes he disappeared, yet later a rumble shook through the earth and to the sky a high earth wall rose, alerting all nearby teams to return to the starting point pronto, and both Yamato and Tsunade shared a look.

"Do you think we'll find anything at all?"

"It's obvious, isn't it?" she retorted, only subtly obscuring her disappointment. "I think it's time to give up. Sasuke was far too many steps ahead and it wouldn't surprise me if he'd erased the seals before we even realized what was going on."

"I see. This situation really is hopeless…"

Tsunade scoffed. "Yamato, this isn't like you."

"Ah, well, I was hoping we'd find at least something, even if I wasn't exactly getting my hopes up. And you say the autopsy reports reveal nothing?"

"A strange substance of unknown origins in their blood but as I have no way of figuring out what is it… Nothing at all. Whatever Sasuke did, he couldn't have done it better to elude us all completely. And his alleged betrayal might just not be alleged at all."

A group of up to twenty high-level chuunin flooded the area and Tsunade let out a heavy sigh. "At least Shikamaru's getting somewhere…"

Ah, yes, Shikamaru and his attempt considered futile prior to his sudden reappearance in the doorway and the following exclamation of "I bring news". She'd deemed his efforts to mean nothing at all and even if the story he shared had whiffed of abundance, still it'd made that little difference they'd needed, that silver lining they couldn't have hoped for.

But still. It didn't mean she'd sit tight and wait for more. Naruto wasn't acting, instead letting them do all the work while turning a blind eye to reality and his blatant refusal to accept the truth was slowly reaching a breaking point; understanding well how a Hokage was meant to work, Tsunade knew soon there would be repercussions and that, despite the futility of her wrath directed at the young man, she didn't want to witness.

Soon everyone had gathered and all teams were dispatched back to Konoha with her decisive words and she couldn't help the flourishing of the pride inside her – as still many considered her the Hokage. Mostly now. Only now when theirs seemed an apparent failure. That she conceded to, acting the replacement for the time being – yet fully hoping in the restoration of his abilities.

Because…

Because he wasn't meant to turn into a docile, lifeless doll. And not perish this cruelly.

Never this cruelly, you young fool.

"Ah, Kakashi-senpai!"

Roused from her reverie by Yamato's voice, Tsunade stopped in her tracks, landing with a grace on the nearby branch to sway slightly beneath her weight, before her semi-narrowed eyes landed on Kakashi.

"Kakashi, what are you doing here?"

"I was looking for you," replied the man coolly, stopping at a safe distance of few feet from the pair and assuming the trademark mask of nonchalance. "I met the other teams along the way, got their brief reports."

"Ah, so now even you know we haven't discovered anything," said Yamato, voice dreary and Kakashi sighed before shooting Tsunade a dark look.

"Is it true, Tsunade-sama? Is there honestly nothing?"

Tsunade grimaced; as if her societal status could ever change a thing. She didn't do miracles and as unfortunate as that was, no impromptu quick glance about would shed light upon them, even if she certainly did wish for such miraculous powers. Ah, well.

She shrugged and answered simply-"Nothing at all."

Both Yamato and Kakashi looked a bit like somebody had kicked them. While Tsunade could definitely relate, having felt that very same way far too often in the past weeks, she, for once, didn't feel like offering that figurative shoulder to cry on, seeing as even she needed one such person to mend her wounds. No matter what people liked to think, she was only human.

Even if…

Heavily, Tsunade sighed.

"Tsunade-sama, is everything alright?"

One brow quirked in a laconic fashion, Tsunade looked at Kakashi, the answer spelled in penance.

Kakashi managed a helpless look, backing away slightly.

A firecracker, she'd go down in fashion, even under these plain annoying circumstances, yet a part of her claimed she was being too harsh on the poor men – and another fought it was her right and privilege to mistreat those of that supposed stronger sex, for if not women, who else would assist in keeping their egos under check? Ah, she could already feel the upcoming headache as a mere, direct and misfortunate result of all those rampaging thoughts and considered herself most lucky; Kakashi and Yamato only endearingly confused would look, the minds flailing underneath all pressure applied and giving away with the steam evaporating from their ears and rising in the air in an alluringly slow fashion.

Bastards.

And headache. Oh, headache. And her behavior truly was uncalled for; despite her previous offensive thoughts, Kakashi and Yamato seemed to be regarding her with concern and clarity unmatched by their kin, as if suspecting of the direction of her thoughts and Tsunade had to admit – she needed a break. Something to distract her from these troublesome and busy days when to and fro she'd run, commanding people when it wasn't her job and she was but an aging lady with no grandchildren to keep her company, only the loyal memories of hers to follow with precision each step taken.

She knew, also, that these skewered thoughts weren't coincidental.

Nothing in this world was.

But she wouldn't go there – not in her mind, not anywhere else, even if enclosed in a bubble of privacy so tight air-proof would be for-admitting in any way that it was him putting her in this disposition-

"Tsunade-sama-"

"I'm fine," she snapped-and offered the dark-haired man an apologetic look.

At that moment it became apparent – both Kakashi and Yamato knew. Had known for a while, perhaps, for a knowing, pointed look they exchanged and Tsunade considered ushering them away at once before their incessant worries made themselves tangibly known yet-maybe it was foolish of her to be acting this petulant, when there was no evil in seeking aid.

None whatsoever.

"Tsunade-sama, there's no harm in admitting you're tired," spoke Kakashi slowly, drawing a sympathetic look for Yamato, but Tsunade didn't dismiss them.

"Maybe, but this is no time for such discussion."

"The teams can wait. Better yet, they'll have reached Konoha by now," said Kakashi.

Tsunade scoffed. "It doesn't matter. I can deal with this and before you say a thing-the likeness is just accidental," she added right as either was about to point out, as she suspected, that they all knew a person known for apparently being able to handle things.

Kakashi blinked. "At least, so you'd like to think," he interrupted her chain of thoughts, eliciting a hiss of disapproval from Yamato. "Don't look at me that way, it's true. I understand this is affecting us all but I thought we'd have learned from our past mistakes never to mistrust each other again. It was the dishonesty that first and foremost resulted in this situation, so while you might deem the matter as personal, private and insignificant, Tsunade-sama, your fatigue is ours just as well and matters greatly." He shifted. "In the grand scheme of things, each detail previously forgotten matters. We're all in the same team. You should know that."

You should know that.

She should.

Not look at the ground, not express pity – still, Tsunade understood she'd been chastised in success. And Kakashi was right.

Completely right.

"You are right." I am sorry. No? Yes, she was. Immensely, extremely so – but maybe not about this. Actually… A castaway look on her features as she looked above at the few patches of sky visible through the crowned trees.

Definitely not about this.

She sighed. "I am tired. Just tired." Known fact being shared this openly might not have meant much, but she knew she'd already progressed enough, having discarded a portion of that unfathomable pride very few were aware of. Kakashi and Yamato had different looks in their eyes for a change, mildly curious but accepting on a whole, and the handful of information so easily shared by a number of insignificant gestures threatened to startle her; more than ever before, Tsunade was aware of her vulnerability in this grand world.

Woosh – raspy, tickling breath of the wind on their faces, the midnight sun nearing-

"The trees."

Trees? Tsunade looked at Kakashi to see the man fixating his gaze upon the very trees; to have been of interest immense enough to see the façade otherwise cool lose all that icy quality and become this vigorously scrunched up was peculiar, but to see the man's entire body tense as a follow-up action before Tsunade's previous thought had even finished was distressing.

"Trees?" she echoed sullenly, and her answer was a tentative step forward – then the man's jaw tightly clenched, a certain overbearing spasm coming over his features, intense enough in its sheer strength she'd seen all his muscles clench. But resistance was futile. And soon.

Kakashi was the messenger bearing all signs of abuse of an untold story.

Untold – for only as long as this message would take the time to register in your mind.

"Treetop. The treetops." He cursed.

Tsunade wasn't getting it – and mystified, the weight of the notion burdening down Yamato as well, she looked up as well. "Kakashi, explain."

Kakashi stepped forward, the small of his hand pressed flat against the large tree trunk, most minuscule in comparison to the tree to have been there for centuries no doubt – to have witnessed the wonder of human evolution and mind recession, to have seen the blood spilled and-

-something, tinkered with, roused, in Tsunade's mind flashed and she felt a thing akin to puzzle pieces snapping together rubbed against the back of her eyes.

Then she watched intently, feeling – there was something to be seen, but what-what exactly on Earth was it-what exactly had enraptured the man's attention so-what in the hell was it-

-her blood boiled.

And Kakashi was the master.

The master of deceit in terms of power and knowledge, for who would have pegged him this masterful and all-seeing, the omniscient lord of tell and tale? Who could have known – that worry would lace his gaze with perturbed passion, have it rest upon the tree – find an answer?

Snap.

There goes the end of our precious tale.

The tale which Tsunade would read vehemently, for finally – all was coming together.

"The treetops, Tsunade-sama," continued Kakashi after a painstaking moment. "We never checked from the treetops. We assumed Sasuke would have stuck to the ground, his affinity with fire the source of our beliefs, but… We forgot that Orochimaru would have taught him a lot more." His expression snapped to portray the endeavor of an enraged mother mourning the loss of her child. "Deceit and trickery."

Yamato did not waste a moment. Did not wait for further. No-one did.

One after another, they all jumped further up, their bodies lacking the feathery grace of a cat flying up and – without a doubt they felt; the shaking to the core of their beings, the eyes recognizing the diminutive lack of light and the sun disappearing on the horizon, and the fact that while still unsaid, the burden of the fact to have gone by ignored urged them on.

Because the idiots had never thought of that.

Of Sasuke's diverse skill, of Sasuke's supremacy, because it felt darn painful to admit someone even thirty years your junior had become your teacher – had you rendered the pitying pupil, because Tsunade hated to admit to herself – that Sasuke-

-that Sasuke as a ninja was a foe scarily powerful. And far too supreme, indeed, for anyone's good.

Her feet skidded across the trunk, leading the body to jump back, the feet to land on the highest branch-

"We should have realized it, should have seen it coming. Damn," she cursed under her breath and scanned the surrounding trees.

"Sasuke may have built a seal," said Yamato, solemn, wind slashing at his face without care. "But his feet may have never touched the ground."

Tsunade gritted her teeth. Feeling as though slapped across her face, an involuntary flinch followed-livid. That's what she was. Livid at herself, body shaking, something like a tremor cursing her for her capricious assumptions, for the simple fact that she had overlooked it as well. To have-

"What's that?" Kakashi tiptoed forward, the branch underneath the weight of his body threatening to buckle and split-

-to have ignored just that, the gleam of the dot almost unnoticeable in the distance, and it was the source of light disappearing from the sky, the radiance brighter and colorful by sheer accident alerting them to it-

-to it.

It.

The stupid. Liquid. Dry. On the nearby try. Just a small nothing, just a small thing.

But, really. How many animals, how many birds would climb up that high, land that low, perch themselves up and leave an evenly jagged vertical line glistering from afar on the highest piece that, sticking out like a sore thumb, lone and single, lacked leaves – lacked life.

"Blood," hissed Yamato through tightly, painfully clenched teeth. "Human touch."

Tsunade frowned, making a beeline for the tree, her body carried gracefully through the air and landing on a sturdy-looking branch that almost could not bear the sudden jump but the few moments sufficed.

"Blood," she hissed as well, noting the pattern of the blood smudge, how it appeared to form an unknown symbol.

One of Orochimaru's cursed secret jutsu, no doubt, she thought grimly, casting a sage look around. The two men did not need to hear any more; her expression alone, she knew, had sufficed; they parted ways, either jumping in a different direction and Tsunade soon followed, their bodies a blur smeared across the darkening skies as from a tree to tree they jumped – the visit they paid it short-lived and brief – and the whole exchange may have lasted but a few minutes.

By the end of it, they all knew.

"This," said Kakashi, jumping on the ground next to Tsunade and Yamato-"-is a seal." An expression of immense fear overcame his features. At least, in Tsunade's mind there was no place for doubt; at that precise moment, suddenly confronted with a portion of Sasuke's truest skill, they all felt the same sensation cripple their senses. Fear.

Tsunade pressed her hand against her head, nursing that incoming, splitting headache.

"Sasuke has surpassed all our expectations." It was too late and the headache had arrived, hitting her full force and making the aged bones creak in fury. Tsunade, for all her power, had never felt so useless. She closed her eyes.

"He did not just create a gateway for himself."

A shaky breath taken. She winced and-wanted to. Curl into a ball. Never see the light of the day. Know that in this world, a monster this great existed.

He was, she suddenly knew, their biggest and darkest foe.

This male…

"He turned the entire forest into a seal."

Who made them a fly.

Naruto, did you know? Did you ever know what this male was capable of, how susceptible to ignorance, stupidity we were? Did you know – the man you loved was far beyond everyone's reach?

Tsunade turned on her heel – sped to Konoha.

Sped, Kakashi and Yamato in her tow, but they were too slow and she too fast, copious amounts of chakra wasted to propel her through the air like a bullet – as she ran, ran and ran, the burden of this terrible secret they'd discovered making her slam into leaves and grass and leave behind terrible crates of her power.

They all knew that.

That never.

Ever.

Had they ever stood a chance against this man.

If anyone did, it was that withered young male residing in the Hokage tower, and-

We've never needed you this much.

A branch was torn down, split in half.

NARUTO.

)) ~it_has_come_to_this_too far_soul_to_be_sole~((

Kiba gave the guard a sleazy smile and leaned against the wall. The guard, however, being a male, was not affected.

Kiba's resolved faltered for a bit, but he regained his vigor a split second later, leaning closer in and grinning wickedly. "Come on, come on, I just want to see an ol' friend of mine. Is that bad?"

The guard didn't even blink. "Hokage-sama doesn't wish to be disturbed."

"Boy, I'm not disturbing him," said Kiba, the humor leaving his voice. "I just want to talk to an old friend of mine."

"Cannot happen. Impossible!"

Kiba stared at him for a while, then tsk-ed. "Okay, okay, whatever… Whatever, man."

The guard relaxed-

-Kiba pushed past him like he was nothing, his cheerful disposition lighting up the long hallway and his radiant smile profoundly confusing the guard out of his jolly mind. "I'll just have to force an entry then! No problem!"

Akamaru launched on the man's arm before he even had the chance to act, hand outstretched on pure instinct, and he let out a horrific shriek, genuinely believing the dog to be an evil creature set upon tearing his arm off and mauling him to death. His screams alerted the other guards and one by one the rushed to the scene of crime.

Kiba, however, did not seem to notice – or care.

He walked on-marched, in fact. Marched on, marched inside Naruto's private chambers, all guards a few steps behind him – leaned against the doorframe, knocked mockingly and only for good measure against the cool surface of the door-

"Yo, Naruto, we gotta talk."

-and Naruto turned to look at him, expression morose.

Something in Kiba, at that moment, snapped.

Without further ado, he rushed towards the man and his hand shot out, curling around Naruto's robes and lifting him off the ground. Behind him, there was chaos, panic – mayhem. Three pairs of hands instantaneously found his, attempting to pry him off their beloved sage, because it was wrong and what guarantee did they have he wouldn't hurt him, hurt the man already hurt enough? Oh, no guarantee? Well.

Kiba growled.

Fuck you, people. Just fuck you.

"Kiba, what are you doing?"

"You're going to hurt the Hokage!"

"Kiba-san, stop it!"

"Kiba!"

"Kiba-san-stop him, hold him off-"

"T-trying, but he won't budge-"

"Don't use any jutsu, he could hurt the Hokage-"

"D-don't-"

Slowly the said man hurt and wounded deeply enough he should have died by now looked up at him, crystal blue eyes directed at Kiba's-

-and in them something vicious and angry.

Kiba's hold on Naruto loosened.

So you are not completely lost, are you, Naruto?

"What's this all about, Kiba?" asked Naruto, tone somewhere between calm and angry, potentially indignant for all Kiba knew, and Kiba shook all three men off, regaining his hold on the Kage for all as long as he could.

"Came to cuss you out, that's all," he replied smoothly. Naruto's brows twitched, a minuscule frown creasing his features. Without much care for the world, he put his hand around the one holding him in place-applied pressure.

Holy mother of-

Pain.

Like someone had put a boulder on his arm. Or-

A mountain. The goddamn mountain. A building.

Just so much pressure on his muscles, forcing him to go down, for his knees to buckle and he realized, with dismay, just as he hit the ground and the hand involuntarily lost of grip on Naruto, that he'd been injected with chakra; a portion viperous, voracious enough his body would have lost balance and had him spiral downwards had he not been the friend to receive mercy, and it was the closest to fear he'd come, the closest to a blow he'd received without any hit making contact.

He blinked.

Naruto, what the hell are you?

"Ho… Hokage sama-"

"Go, leave us."

"Hokage-sama-"

Naruto rolled his shoulders back. "Just go. Kiba called it; we gotta talk. So we're going to talk."

The group of three shared a look. Begrudgingly, casting confused, hateful looks at Kiba's direction – no doubt peeved about being chastised by their lord –, they trudged outside, remembering their manners and closing the door behind. At that moment, Kiba wasn't sure whether to feel glad for that or horrified, for the prospect of being in sealed off area with that person to leave his ego appalled didn't bode with him well. In fact, at that moment, he would have rather been outside that door as well.

But then, the show Naruto had put up was gone and the morose quality returned to his features.

To that, Kiba reacted.

He gathered himself to his feet, a look of focus on his features. Strangely Naruto looked at him, incapable, as Kiba thought, of reading his thoughts; perhaps in the past he'd read Sasuke's with precision, knowing exactly what shenanigans were going through that wretched place of his called mind, yet in this case they were stragglers meeting on uneven grounds, and while the previous random outburst might have stupefied him for a moment – as he was seized with the other's faltering, inquiring gaze, blood hot like iron purged him free of guilt and fright.

No going back, pal, none at all.

Gruff, Kiba scoffed, rolling the right shoulder back, arm no longer aching, a contented look coming over his features as the shoulder blade popped into the sockets and Naruto winced.

Right.

Showtime.

"So…" he started, taking his precious, precious time.

"So…" repeated Naruto.

"So…" he continued and stared Naruto down. Of course… The blond did not blink one bit, unaffected by that and Kiba blamed Sasuke since he was an easy victim to all, but that didn't stop him. He stepped forward, a frown on his face. "So, Naruto. I came to do something."

"Oh? What's that?"

Somehow, just somehow – Naruto's calm exterior unsettled him – and made the internal battle even worse.

"I don't think you'll approve, heh," he answered, a hint of anger in his voice.

Naruto only blinked. "It's not like the world is riddled with things I've approved of."

Kiba pursed his lips into a thin line.

More than anything else in the world, he was angry at himself; now as he stood there with the wickedly ample opportunity to strike and force this excuse of a man out of his shelf, he could not; the situation in itself wasn't even that remotely startling, rather – it was the composure that he oozed, the features of his so striking that Kiba had not noticed before, and the way he picked his words, worded his sentences. All a trap lulling him back, all a trap making that inert anger subside until a part of Kiba suddenly believed – he'd not come with the intention to strike. And be ferocious. Vicious.

But.

… To be soothed, to be calmed; petted, stroked on hair, treated a child and told everything was going to be fine, because no matter what great a hero, the need for a mother's touch never died. It was a transcendental feature carried from generation to generation through bitterness and love, and it was the exact feeling that Kiba felt invade his mind, for the longer he stayed in Naruto's presence, the more inclined he was to just – look down at his shoes, shuffle around, be a nervous, maybe love-struck child, be an abomination… All wrath lost.

Che… Naruto, what a strange man you are… I wouldn't have thought you'd have this effect on me… Wouldn't have believed it until now.

He balled his hands into fists. Over the knuckles, the skin turned pearly white, maybe suggesting there was no flesh at all, just the bones and skin covered the body of a wandering soul, of someone-

Enough.

He snapped.

"Yeah, whatever. I'm not here to humor your self-pity, Naruto, I'm here to pry your stupid eyes open."

Naruto frowned. "…What?"

Kiba grimaced and stepped forward. "Naruto, I'll give you one simple question."

"Okay…"

"Tell me, Naruto. How is Hinata doing?"

Naruto shot him a bewildered look-and had no time to reply.

Kiba sneered. "Or Ino? Eh? Ino? Know her? Blond hair, kind of hip, always liked to make herself pretty. She's pregnant, know that? And baby daddy is who knows where. Kinda tough, eh?"

Naruto might have tried to say something, lips parting, but as Kiba still recognized the confusion in his eyes, he didn't stop. Could NOT stop, not until he saw that wretched egg gone.

"Yeah, her. Know her? D'you know how Chouji's doing? His wife's due… Er. Some time? Did you know? Hell, you didn't. I remember Chouji telling us he'd told you. Betcha, though, that you remember jack shit."

A wince. Naruto made a face. "That's ridiculous, I know all these things."

"No, Naruto." Kiba made a step back. Why? Simple. He could not look at him. Look at him and see this man really had not noticed, had not seen a thing.

Over his shoulder, he noticed the window. Closed. Shut off. He snarled.

Wordlessly, he pushed past Naruto, yanked the curtains apart and opened the window wide. Fresh, late afternoon air breezed inside, ruffling the hair cut short on his head, and he looked over his shoulder at the ever-so-confused Naruto-

-ha.

I feel… Pity for you, fool. Nothing but pity.

"It's no wonder, Naruto, that you don't understand anything. How can you when you don't even look?"

Right, where was he a hypocrite in that sentence? Duly noted. But ignored. He leaned against the windowpane, thrust his chin up and decided to no longer waste a moment.

"Ino, you know, and Hinata and then Chouji, right, are just the few examples I tell you about. There are others, yeah, so many people in Konoha suffering along with you, suffering at your hand, Naruto, because as you flounder about, agonized, you don't even look at who you've hit. It pisses me off. I've spent too many years watching my comrades die to let another life go to waste because of an insufferable mistake. I don't get it and I'm not gonna lie." He tsk-ed. He wasn't Shikamaru, had never been Shikamaru; he did not have the heart burning of loyalty to fall down on his knees to cry; he had not Sakura's fervent compassion to sympathize – not Hinata's pure heart to understand. Not Gaara's mind to share. Not anyone's involvement… to care. But he was himself. No matter what it made him, what it made him not, or what it had him, by default, identified as. Kiba was Kiba. Kiba had always been – always would be Kiba; that jackass without act and the subtlety of a large animal in a china room, but more than ever before he believed in that honest quality, in the golden heart worn on his sleeves and the subtle changes he sensed so very well.

He believed in himself.

"What you and Sasuke did-"-pushed himself off the window, moved forward to stop a short distance of one foot from Naruto-"-I don't care about. You are my friend. You always were. We didn't fail as friends. You did, Naruto. What we didn't see was what you didn't let us see. Despite having us by your side the whole time, you ignored us. The fact you had friends was wasted on you. I'm not going to delude myself into believing it was my fault, anyone's fault. It's just a bitter reality, bro, that you had friends… But you ditched them because you didn't want to see their helping hand. You idiot." Like before his hand curled around Naruto's robes and yanked him close, but this time the unadulterated shock in Naruto's eyes – prevented him from making a move; something so tangible in them even Kiba felt it, and he wanted to gouge out his friend's eyes. "YOU ditched us, Naruto, on far too many occasions. And now you have these people crying to be noticed because we're all pathetically inclined to believe we'd hurt, when in fact it's just a whole range of hurt and a never-ending circle of pain that no-one's doing a damn fucking thing about. IDIOT."

HA. Goddamn you-

-he shuddered, shuddered to think about the thoughts cursing through his mind – TO HELL WITH LOGIC.

And he pushed Naruto off, watching with sick satisfaction as the man's legs hit the nearby couch, as he staggered back, momentarily lost balance and looked up with those pretty blue eyes as wide as saucers. And all for Kiba for the taking.

Bitter, despaired, Kiba covered his face and laughed. "You are not inconsolable. You're just that glorified sack of shit occupying everyone's mind. Beats me why." He laughed on. Hilarious, hilarious! … How he was close to pulling a Shikamaru now. Or to being a Hinata. Or Sakura! Or… Anyone else but himself, anyone but that foul creature to have said things this cruel and spiteful, because he didn't recognize himself and the bitterness he reeked off like a creature of the sewers, like someone-

-someone.

Someone so…

So.

Despicable.

Gritted his teeth-

Goddamn it, why do I feel guilt?

Why do I just-

-want to apologize? I had the right, the right, the stupid right and privilege, my actions and words were justified. I had not wronged him, not accused him unjustly, not abused that illegitimate idea of passing judgment…

I HAVE the right, the stupid right to speak up my mind-!

"Yeah, you are right."

"DUH I AM, DUH I AM."

DUH.

… D…uh? Shell-shocked, Kiba's hands fell back, line of sight no longer obscured, and-was met with Naruto's clear eyes.

They were clear. Crystal clear. Clearer than he'd ever remembered them; even in the teenage days he'd made them murky, the courtesy of the many thoughts overshadowing his best judgment and mind, the courtesy of Sasuke's absence plaguing his mind; even then Naruto had looked haunted.

Now he looked like someone you didn't want to cross and Kiba had just… unwittingly done that?

Naruto, briefly, averted his eyes, expression a void sucking in all life around. As the surrounding features darkened, dimmed, turning grayscale, the man standing in the epicenter grew and flourished, eyes thriving and searching.

"You… are right, Kiba." A small frown creased Naruto's features and he lifted a hand, turning it palm up, then palm down, surveying it with a morbid fascination Kiba couldn't place. "I did… do it out of my own accord. I did push you all away. Because…" Ah, did he see a bulging vein, a peculiar feature to ensnare his attention so? The brows rose and Naruto allowed the hand to fall back, before gifting Kiba with yet another look he couldn't place.

Yet before Kiba's mind could indulge him in the many stories why he should not ask, should not know and why ignorance truly was a bliss, Naruto's eyes softened, the ever-familiar remorse in them instead.

"I only wanted Sasuke. By my side. And no-one… No-one else."

Hah… Kiba's whole body, for reasons odd, relaxed; that simple sentence felt like the admission of truth they'd only been waiting for since the beginning. No matter how sad it was.

Naruto closed his eyes. "Huh, how many days have passed since his disappearing? How many days have I wasted wallowing in self-pity, being a selfish, obstinate child? How many days have I remained ignorant to my people? They did not choose me to become their ultimate demise. They chose me because they'd acknowledged me. I took that trust and chewed it out." His grimace furthered, deep creases around his eyes and lips, until Kiba successfully identified that emotion as that overpowering, all encompassing and crippling… Anger.

Anger. And wrath. And hate. At himself.

Their Kage shook. "I am… Such an idiot."

It was the simplest and most beautiful, most self-deprecating thing he could have said.

Kiba looked down at the ground and admitted to himself – he felt sad. Sad for their Kage. For this situation. Sad for himself, too, sad for the guilt. Sad for the world. Sad, amazingly enough… for Sasuke.

"I didn't know him well," he began, uncertain. "Granted, no-one really did… He was a strange guy, that Sasuke… I don't know why you'd have picked him, but he made a mistake…" Odd, but it was actually so easy, even if it included the difficult task of breaking an odd number of brick walls first, because they were the barriers meant to stop him from digging too deep and getting too far, because they were, essentially, those things responsible for each thing bottled up. Exhausted, Kiba let the emotions wash over him.

"What mistake?" Naruto asked.

The answer was simple. Kiba shrugged. It was noncommittal, meek. "Because he lost you." He looked up. "I can't imagine a plausible, rational, logical, good fucking reason for that, in all honesty."

Naruto's eyes snapped open. A deer caught in highlights, he stared on, until-

-what was this? Whatever it was, Kiba would begrudgingly call it-

-a warm, darling, sheepish smile. "Yeah," Naruto laughed. "I s'ppose so. But he always was a prissy jerk-face, no matter what."

"Hah… Always doomed to be a jerk. What a damn idiot."

"That's right, just a jerk to the end of his days. Man…" Naruto breathed out a sigh of relief and sat down on the side of the couch, toe-tips ghosting over the ground, the shoulders slumped and body hunched over. Kiba failed to confuse this with anything else, knowing for once that Naruto was an open book.

"Ne, Kiba?"

"Hn?"

"Ino-chan… Is really pregnant."

Kiba blinked. "Uh, yeah."

"Heh, haven't spoken to her since forever… I don't even remember being told she's pregnant. Was I ever told?" Utterly confused, he cradled his heads in his hands and whined. "Aaaah… I just… I can't remember."

"You were ignoring stuff?"

"No." Naruto shook his head. "I just… Like. I honestly don't remember? I barely recall what I've been doing in the past few days. I know maybe a week has passed? It feels like an hour…"

"Look, man-"

"No." Naruto jumped to his feet, dismissing Kiba's sentence with a shake of his hand and Kiba was tempted to spit out a sarcastic reply, commenting on how it wasn't exactly polite to cut people off mid-sentence, but Naruto actually cut him off mid-thought and that was too much. "Don't give me this crap how it's understandable because I was out of it and so on. No, I mean it; I'd wake up at odd hours and not remember what I've been doing, then look outside the window, for example, and suddenly the sun's out and a day has passed and I've not apparently moved from the spot. It's just… Ugh."

A strange sinking feeling invaded Kiba's stomach. Unnerved, he cleared out his throat. "Yeah, um… That sounds creepy, man, and weird. Are you sure…?"

"Nah…"

Uncomfortable, Kiba looked everywhere but at Naruto; when he offered sympathy, he got shot down, when an explanation – then some eerie reasoning that left him feeling restless and dejected, prompting an undesirable reaction of the cheeks turning white as a result of that, until, suddenly, he was startled out his reverie by a huffing sound coming from behind him-

"Oi… OI NARUTO!"

Fool, I turn away for a few seconds and you try to jump out the window? THAT'S NOT AN ANSWER DAMN IT-I killed the Hokage.

Naruto was propped up on the windowsill, arms dangling loosely outside and a cutely confused expression on his face as he looked at Kiba. "Whaaat…"

"Naruto, you can't just leave-"

"I have a noble reason, Kiba, and a damn good reason. I'm going to see Hinata-chan."

Kiba's heart missed a beat. No suicide. Thank god. "Okay, sure, but could we use the door?"

Naruto looked over his shoulder at the door staring longingly in their direction, before-beaming at Kiba instead. Kiba didn't even need to know the answer; he already knew the prankster had been lurking inside the whole time and barely the thought had finished before Naruto's body toppled forward, becoming a blur lost in the darkness with Kiba, cursing, muttering angrily to himself about unpredictable fools and their fickle minds to himself, yet sporting an unbidden, hearty smile on his face – trailing right behind.

)) ~it_has_come_to_this_too far_soul_to_be_sole~((

Hinata did not look like death had warmed over; she was pink-faced, in fact, healthy-looking and quite the charmer if you ignored the death bed she'd made her temporary residence in and from which she overlooked the mystifying happenings from the world; no, she was not a child sickly and dying, but Hinata was, despite that, a terrible sight for the sore eyes. She'd recovered well, a person of admirable mental strength, but despite that her heart never-endingly ached, a dull throbbing sensation in her veins making the soulful eyes look all around.

And see nothing.

I am… No-one.

Ashamed, she pulled the covers over her face.

It was late, late again and another late when she'd go to bed and wake up the following morning feeling the emptiness grown ten or one-hundred fold, for each sunshine was as painfully bright as the previous one, each reminding her of own failure and broken heart…

Each reminding her of the fact she'd not moved an inch.

Am I really a shinobi? Something like this… In a battle, I'd be liability.

A small blush crept into her features; cold, she shivered and curled into a ball, lying on her side and looking outside; the tatami door was slid open, the contrasting light and darkness streaming inside invoking grappling feelings in the pit of her stomach.

I've not grown one bit, Naruto-kun…

Naruto's shadow lingered outside, no more than eight years of age, face unmarred by the happenings of what the future would bring and his ever-present cheerful disposition making her breath warm and eyes wide.

No, it was not ever-present and it had seen too much. Now, many years older, Hinata understood the shadow that had lurked in his footsteps back then, understood that her Naruto-kun had never exactly existed; she had… merely… simply… fabricated a love story that knew none other, created the lover that never existed.

Never. Existed.

She shuddered, closed her eyes.

"I'm sorry… Naruto-kun… I'm still such a child. In comparison to you, I've not grown one bit…"

Soft sounds were heard.

They were like one heart, tapping against the floor in turns and along with her heartbeat, lulling and deceptive because she'd conjured up yet another lie to save her precious mind from dominion of reality, but it was a plentiful dream and one of a kind, making a cherished smile blossom on her features; after all, this way she could picture that her Naruto-kun had beaten the impossible and come to this world; now, he'd guard over her, a wistful smile on his features, the silent night and day watch that never left her side, the constant reminder of some inner beauty she'd have easily dismissed. It was splendorous idea, a magical thought, a pathetic concept of loneliness she embraced, and it was, in that sense, perfect for her.

Content for a while, she sighed into her pillow, a happy noise escaping her lips.

Until gentle fingers ghosted over her skin and tucked a few strands of hair behind her ear, reminding her of games she'd played as a child on her own, when only her own imagination had kept her company; she'd had two hands turn into best friends, the middle and ring finger legs, pinky and pointy the arms and the thumb that awkward friend that served only little purpose but was still welcome.

And like that, sending warm jolts up and down her spine, fingers seemed to walk over her cheek, the ghostly touch the injection of light into her bloodstream that made the eyes open and the- the cheeks become a murky shade of red.

And she gazed into a pair of blue eyes smiling sadly down at her now, then she saw a tanned hand leave her face, saw it fall onto his lap, saw the man shuffle, saw him shoot her that pain and regret etched in his features.

Her heart skipped a beat.

Naruto.

Horrified, she sat up, head spinning wildly for a moment, acknowledging the fact it'd been reality all along and she'd not pictured a thing-which meant he'd seen the smile and felt her comfort and-

"Na… Naruto-kun, I'm so-sor… I…"

He did not say a thing, acknowledging, apparently, her confused jumble of words, and from the corner of her eyes Hinata noticed movement; Kiba shuffled inside her room a moment later, helpless, hopeless, but oddly pleased about something, flushed a bewildered shade of red like he'd walked on in a private scene.

She scooted away, embarrassed beyond measure.

Naruto's face wrinkled a smile. "Hey, Hinata-chan."

Ch-chan… He said chan.

She gulped. "Ah, ah, um-Na-Kib-Ho-wha-I-um."

A tremble. And she wanted to cry.

Naruto gave her a goofy smile.

Kiba sat down right next to him, waving her an awkward but confident hello that prompted an immediate nod of her head in turn.

"How's it goin', Hinata?" asked Kiba.

She blinked. "Um…G-"

Kiba didn't let her finish. "So I brought Naruto. I hope you're not mad?" He clasped his hands together as if in a prayer and winked at her, grinning broadly, something akin to a sad puppy eye look momentarily grazing his features; behind him, Akamaru appeared in the door, propping itself up on its front legs, its fur glistening like a silver shawl in the incoming moon-light.

Completely stunned and at a loss of words, Hinata could only shake her head meekly.

Naruto smirked. "Heh, expected something like that… How you feeling? Good? Kiba here tells me you've locked yourself up here and refuse to come out. Something about me popping out the corner and hurting you. Is it true?"

"N-no! Oh, no. Naruto-kun-I wouldn't dare think such a thing, I…" she trailed off, shooting Kiba a panicky, pleading look, but he was feigning convenient ignorance and looking elsewhere and Naruto's eyes, on the other hand, wouldn't leave her face.

"It's okay, Hinata… You have all the right in the world to hate me now," he said, voice solemn.

She protested and protested, echoing her weak moans of dejection silently in her head, but no word left her lips.

Naruto, perhaps, interpreted it as a sign she did not quite understand at that moment, and she was actually surprised she'd not launched into a tirade of madness and apologies for such absurd assumptions, for he was no atrocity and deserved better. But then, she thought, a part of her… seemed to want it. That guilt of his. Like the most delicious meal served on a silver plate.

"It's okay," he muttered, shifting and folding his hands on his lap. Eyes directed at the long digits, he didn't speak for an unpleasantly long while, leaving Hinata to eat on her own conscience and nibble at the thoughts that would have had him burned at stake.

But then-

"You have the right and I have none. Despite that, here as I am, I beg of you-forgive me."

It was polite, courteous. But each word was drenched so thickly in a syrup of regret she felt the residual bits that couldn't fit drip down.

And she looked up.

He was drenched in it. A figure of pity and regret deep and intrinsic. Looking like the devil may care actually cared.

Her heart, once more, skipped a beat and then sang a sad, low song.

"What I did… I kept breaching the boundaries, going too far. Yeah, yeah, you didn't understand… I could have made you, could have aided you… After all, you offered a helping hand, you offered to understand, and I shot you down like you didn't matter. I could say I think you deserve more, yet as true as that'd be, it's also something I have no right to claim. Maybe I am asking you for forgiveness, yet at the same time…" He frowned, the smile turned upside-down. "I keep hoping you don't."

Hinata leaned forward, fingers curling around the hem of her blanket.

Naruto looked up. "I hope you don't."

She stared. "W… why?" she breathed.

Naruto was a scrooge, waiting with the answer, but offering freely the many seconds to tick by and haunt her mind. And then he looked like a simpleton again, and she knew she'd insulted him in a sense, a part of her taking relish in seeing the genuine pain in his features and pondering if it made her cruel.

"Because forgiveness, like respect, like love and hate, like any other emotion in the world, is earned, not given." For a moment, Naruto's face darkened. "That I taught Sasuke without intending to."

Something danced over her face, and over his as well; it was disgust, revulsion, it was something worse and darker than that – it was disappointment; that he'd still speak of the man, he'd still dwell hard, and he'd still acknowledge that one presence to have influenced him so much.

Hinata, despite her gentle disposition and tender, caring nature, felt a jolt of resentment.

With eyes filled with confusion, she looked at her blunt fingers and clipped fingernails.

"That is true… I am a fool, Naruto-kun."

No.

She swallowed.

Suddenly, everything was gone. And everything made sense.

"We are all fools, Hokage-sama."

He didn't reply.

And she'd speak to her heart's content, quivering, her heart throbbing, eyes watering and cheeks flushing, but resolve – unwavering. "I… can see it now. You're here as I'd hoped, and you came as I'd wished. I realize now this I'd been hoping for. To see you come for me, to me, yet you arrive and I am a mess, a wreck and undeserving, and I realize I don't want you here. I don't want you here for me like this, not arrive in glory and with nonchalant yet pitying grace for someone so easily swallowed up by own woes. I'd… always… hoped you'd come. I'd never run, never looked… For this. I am no-one."

Kiba moved to say a terrible no-Naruto put a hand on his shoulder to shove him back into his place and silence him.

Somehow, the gesture of understanding that filled Hinata with hope.

"I don't want you here, Naruto-kun… I. Love you. I am… In love. With you. But I see now I'd been wrong to call this love. Gentle, caring and dear you'd been to me always, yet one moment of an honest no and I crumble. Now it makes me reflect, I-I suppose… And realize that the love… that… everything…"

A hand reached out, warm, and held hers. Hinata smiled in the only way she could at the given moment and a trickle of one single tear to land on that darker skin smiled lovingly back.

He did her a favor and finished the thought for her-"It's not deserved."

Hinata hiccoughed. "Ye-… Mhm. Aa."

A moment later, the hand disappeared and Hinata knew what to do.

She rose to her feet.

And looked down at her beloved.

And she felt herself fall in love all over again – with the pride in his eyes for she knew it was meant only for her, with the admiration meant for her as well, with the equal measure of love he'd weighed and dedicated to her, with everything in them that spoke he wanted to deserve it.

Then he stood up as well, a grin sorry but honest on his face.

And they hugged.

Nearby, Kiba sat, blushing and nervous, scratching the back of his neck and looking equally embarrassed.

Hinata buried her face into the crook of Naruto's shoulder-

Naruto-kun… Has your back gotten thinner?

-and embraced him even stronger.

A few sweet seconds later they pulled away; Hinata could imagine them making love and being forever together, but it was a fickle and insignificant thought she no longer needed for survival, and – thus, it was dismissed with as fickle a movement of her hand, and she looked him in the eye.

Maybe that was the first time in her life he'd smiled for her, the first time she had made him happy.

"You really are something, Hinata," he laughed, dimples in his cheeks, a finger tracing her cheek and wiping any more tears away.

At the most appropriate of moments, Kiba's voice meekly disturbed their moment. "… Okay. I'm glad you guys, uh… I actually don't know what you just did? Looks to me, though, that you told each other off before agreeing it's made you closer again and that ain't normal, but you know what?" He gave a large, melodramatic shrug, beaming. "I don't give a damn!"

Hinata felt like laughing a bit, realizing how strange this scene must have looked, and she sat down on her makeshift bed, the legs that had not been properly used for days aching dully and warning her of a fall in the event of exerting herself. Expecting a similar thing – unless, of course, he was considering leaving – she looked at Naruto, to see him sit down-

-sit down too heavily, too hard, too-pale.

A heavy rock met the bottom of her stomach. "Naruto-kun?"

He shook his head.

Akamaru whined, waddling closer and, alerted, Kiba frowned. "Hey, what's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"Nar-"

"I want to tell you more," he interrupted, resolved. Kiba and Hinata stared. "Another story," he added.

"Eh… Shikamaru's not here and my memory isn't that good, Naruto…"

"Mine is."

Kiba winced. Hinata thought he'd hoped to avoid this, but refused to back down; determined, she casted a sage look in Naruto's direction, ignoring for the sake of the situation – at least for a while, just a short while – that discomfort that seemed to eat away at his features.

He stared at her back and they shared a long, hard look when he seemed to question her, perhaps, and the validity of her statement, before blinking it away, giving up and settling back.

She ignored, just as well, the way his hands balled and teeth clenched.

There was a story to tell, and as long as they didn't know it whole, the reason for his current state of body and mind – and the back which she'd noticed had shrunk – would elude them completely; she understood finally, that ignorance as well was a gift earned.

"Okay," he said through clenched teeth, blue eyes heavy. "It's… It's um-remember when your sister was getting married, Kiba?"

"Uh, yeah. We had a party. You didn't attend it. Even though you'd been invited."

Naruto snickered. "Yeah. Want to know why I didn't come? 'Cause, you know… Thing is, I actually almost did."

Kiba quirked one brow at him. "Oh? Well, go on then, I suppose there is a good reason behind it. I mean, it's coming a few years late, but go on… I say if it's a part of the bigger picture, I'm listening."

Hinata readied her mind.

He started speaking slowly and carefully, and towards the end of it his voice would go hoarse and memories coarse from abuse, she knew, and towards the end of it, she knew as well, they'd be one step closer to figuring out the truth.

One step closer – she realized, the Byakugan activated for a minuscule and inconsiderable moment – to knowing why, as Naruto spoke, the chakra flow of his body surged to the heart and stalled, and why, she knew, he omitted the glow…

Of decay.

)) ~it_has_come_to_this_too far_soul_to_be_sole~((

Less time to think, less time to act; Sasuke was as quick on his feet as he was with his words.

But Naruto was quicker.

He launched just one kunai at him the speed and strength of many and the man's body became a blur against the grass as he dodged first to left and then right, Naruto's eyes following the movement only absently. Perspiration gathered on his forehead, chest clenched tight and legs wide apart.

I know this trick, you asshole. You're going to appear-

He dodged.

Just as the heel of Sasuke's foot lodged itself in the spot where Naruto had stood a second ago, and he lurched himself forwards, another kunai sliding down to his palm from the sleeve, and the handle grasped firmly in his fingers, he slashed at Sasuke, making a beautiful cut through the clothing.

Yet Sasuke smirked.

Naruto's eyes widened.

The clone poofed at the moment as the kunai inched further away from it, and behind him the real one appeared. Naruto felt a kunai tip against his lower back, felt it trail up along the spine and end at the neck; how tender the touch of that lethal object. Sasuke made everything about power and control and Naruto, under his breath, smiled. And how predictable of him to revel in knowing he'd almost won.

Almost, indeed, because Naruto, for once, did not care about maiming. His scars would heal.

He thrust his body back, the kunai penetrating the skin on his neck-coming far too close to severing an important artery-and Sasuke's hold on it lessened, shock, probably, ensuring he'd not win this time. Naruto jumped above and behind Sasuke just as the man dropped the kunai and whipped around-

-their bodies, hands and feet clashed in a hand-to-hand, short but swift combat. And they danced.

Across the grassy field. The training grounds. Across the skies. Like two sparrows. And a nightingale they became, too quick for the human eye, blurring together in power. From their bodies chakra of mismatching colors surged, laying waste to the greenery they grazed, and Naruto landed on the ground, the ground giving away and buckling underneath – a crater.

Pupils turned to slits followed each movement and Sasuke's feet like feather touched the ground just opposite of him, yet he was not fooled; soon the man was turning around, his eyes melted with blood and blazing red-

-Chidori crackled to life. Light enveloped the surrounding forest.

Naruto leaned back-winced; a long gash on his thigh prevented further movement and he scoffed; it was just a moment, the exact moment that took Sasuke to form a bull-body Chidori, and Naruto sent chakra to the wound, watching it seal itself as his hands formed the familiar spinning ball of chakra.

He didn't even know when the dread came, only that a split second later they'd still not moved, rooted to the same spot and watching each other, as if waiting, waiting for something very specific to happen, to stop them-

"Naruto, oi, Naru-oi… OI YOU GITS!" Kiba skidded to a halt, horror-stuck. Next to him, Shino edged away, caution in his step. "What ARE you two doing again? Tsunade-sama's told you MANY times now not to use your two signature moves. Are you trying to wipe us out? Oh, goddamn it," he cursed and cradled his face and both hands.

Naruto glowered at him, leaning back and assuming a relaxed posture, fingers lazily snapping to allow the Rasengan to whizz to nothingness; from the corner of his eyes, he noticed Sasuke doing the same, hesitation and unwillingness following the decline of his Chidori. Around them, things surged to life, regaining their courage and buzzing tentatively with joy, bugs finally filtering the hot summer day and leaves rustling, as if even the wind had left them in fright.

Kiba hissed, enraged, and skidded down the slope to march over to them, Shino following behind only as the bodyguard and giving Naruto one short, brief nod.

"Jeez, Kiba, calm your pants," muttered Naruto under his breath, watching with sick amusement as Kiba's face turned various shades of red, a large vein pulsating on the forehead.

"Calm… your pants, you say. Of course. Ugh. Naruto, you're bleeding."

Naruto stuck out his tongue at him, hands crossed over his chest. "I'm a bleeding idiot for sparring? Well, nice."

Kiba stared. "… No. You're bleeding. There." He pointed a finger. "From your neck."

Actually surprised, Naruto lifted a hand and curiously poked the spot Kiba was pointing at-

-and ended up burying the finger in the open wound, muscle and skin forcibly pushed aside and tissue torn open even further with a sickening sound-

Ouch.

Kiba and Shino winced.

Sheepish, Naruto laughed, wiping the bloodied finger against his pants and trying to send some chakra to the spot he'd honestly omitted on accident. "Eeeh, forgot about that. Heat of the battle and all that."

"Right," muttered Kiba, expression deadpan, before it took on an expression of rage and he looked at Sasuke. "Could you not try to slit his throat next time like a pig's? You know." Dangerously, his eyes narrowed; Naruto was surprised to recognize something akin to worry in them. "Refrain from killing him in cold blood and all that?"

Sasuke didn't answer. Did not, in fact, even move, even near them.

Naruto pursed his lips into a thin line, looking at the man's stoic and motionless figure with disdain and growing anger, yet he knew it was not directed at the one to have inflicted the injury, rather-

"Cut it out, Kiba, it was my mistake."

Kiba's frown deepened and with disbelief he turned back to Naruto.

Naruto didn't care to guess what his own expression looked like, but he was experiencing a strange mixture of wrath and a desire to protect; after all, Kiba had no right to blame Sasuke for acting an opponent during battle, not one right to go around, accusing him of being a murderer.

Not after all this time.

His features hardened, a terrifying look coming over this – and this he was aware of perfectly, just as he was of Kiba's growing discomfort and confusion; baffled he was for sure, and maybe so was Naruto, lacking knowledge for this surge of protection, but-

"Fine. Whatever, man," growled Kiba, the words a rushed apology lacking honesty. "I didn't come here to argue anyway. I came here to ask you if you're coming."

Somewhat, Naruto relaxed and shrugged. "The party, yeah? Your sister's getting married in a week."

"Yeah," nodded Kiba. "You said you were coming. Didn't help one bit with preparations, however."

"Eh, was busy."

"With?"

Naruto's brows furrowed.

Kiba understood and smirked like a bitter and fussy old hen. "Right. Well, it's in an hour, just so you know. And I don't want you showing in those clothes, by the way; my sister's overbearing and nervous enough, she doesn't need anyone adding fuel to her fire right now."

"Right."

"Fine. What about Miss Cupcake over there?"

Naruto's brows wrinkled with unbidden amusement; Sasuke being Miss Cupcake was a new one, for sure, and he snickered, the terseness leaving his muscles. "Meh, he'll be fine. We'll go… Home. He can stay alone for some time, just as long as I know where he is and vice versa."

"No problem then?"

"Nupe."

"Fine," said Kiba, slowly shuffling away, avoiding looking at Sasuke. "Just don't be late like the last time, okay? I mean, I won't care? Sis's gonna take your head off, though, so don't give her the reason."

"Sure, sure," waved him off Naruto, scuttling away as Kiba and Shino disappeared from sight.

The dull ache in his neck had gone, indicating the wound had healed alright, and Naruto stared at his finger, suddenly feeling squeamish.

Can't believe I actually-ugh.

So enraptured in own thoughts he was that he didn't even notice where he'd stopped, for the exact whereabouts mattered more with every passing second, and as Naruto looked up, he found himself staring at the back of Sasuke's head.

And the bastard was stood no more than two feet away from him.

And the bastard turned to look at him, face dirtied but still appearing pristine clean, only a trickle of blood released from the corner of his lips and the iciness in his gaze.

Naruto froze.

Shock.

And then-

-he stepped away-

-and Sasuke stepped forward.

They stopped, that short, impeccable distance between them riddled with invisible weights, hanging between them like curtains parted open, halved and beckoning, now floating in the wind.

And Sasuke's eyes rested on-his neck, that neck and that sealed and knitted wound, on the line soft remaining behind and something as if evaporating from it, the chakra used and forever gone-then the eyes narrowed and Naruto saw darkness enter them.

"You're an idiot, Naruto."

And that was it. An idiot.

Naruto grimaced, a conscious gesture of covering the wound prickling his mind.

He ignored it, just as he ignored something else. "We're going."

"I'm staying."

"Sasuke, I have to go."

Sasuke started to walk away. "Then go, Naruto, I am not holding your hand."

Naruto glared at the figure of spite and power, yet-he somehow noted the wobbly quality in the other's legs, and the sweat that had made the clothing cling onto his body like a desperate lover; hours of fighting had tired him out, exhaustion in unfathomable ways and unfathomable qualities invading his senses, the mind of his in betrayal soaking it in like a sponge, until he felt intoxicated.

But he didn't-was that victory he felt? Naruto looked at own shaky-shaky, they were shaky the hands and he'd not known and they may have trembled the whole duration of the conversation, may have been the token of affection Kiba and Shino had glared at, but, most importantly, the sign he'd not seen.

Out of the blue, Naruto felt unsure.

"Sasuke…"

"What is?"

He shuffled. "You can come, too?"

Sasuke halted. "Come…" he echoed, the lone word ridiculing the suggestion.

Naruto refused to bristle. "Yeah, come. Why don't you? It's been months, after all, half a year, basically. I mean, since your release."

"I know very well what you meant, fool," replied the man slowly as he turned to face Naruto again; with ease disapproval and distaste danced on his face, all of which Naruto was far too familiar with.

"Yeah. Fine. Then come? Why don't you?"

"Why would I." No indication, no intonation change… He was abusing the questions to form a coherent and stabbing retort of "no".

Naruto wanted to slap him. Frustrated, he snapped. "What, what, what? Miss Cupcake can't? Miss Cupcake's got nothing else to do. I would know of that, miss. Don't worry, Sasuke-chan, don't worry, your fanclub is still all lovey-dovey and would like some of that ass or whatever." Mocking, he struck a pose of what he assumed a fangirl would, fawning, floundering about with lips comically wide and eyelashes fluttering as if having a seizure. "Oh, Sasu-chan~, come here, come here~! We luuuurve you, Sasu-chan, Sasuke-ku~n, kyah!"

Sasuke's entire body like struck with lighting tensed. Naruto didn't exactly get why, but his heart tensed with frivolous like. Somehow, anyhow… He knew what was going to be come next… And.

He didn't fight it.

Sasuke like an arrow shot towards him, tackling him to the ground and landing on top, sitting on him with one hand curled around Naruto's clothing, their faces drawn so close and the heat of their bodies mangled and sullied, far too worn out to argue with each other or express the desire for dominion over the situation.

Darkly amused, Naruto gave Sasuke a wry, wan smile. "What, Sasuke, still not too fond of your fanclub? Was I too close? Or… Did you like it?"

His response was silence deafening, the sort for which he'd acquired love over time; after all, so many months around this prudish façade and he'd learned to read him inside out, each succinct reaction actually juicy and succulent like that hand pinning him down and the body on top of his.

Sasuke, whether he liked it or not, had become the bedtime story for Naruto to indulge in and favor above all, and right now Naruto was damn sure-that Sasuke, what he felt was-

Can't be-

His eyes widened into the size of s-

-the sun.

"Stop it."

Agony.

But. Why?

Bewilderment. Naruto was-bewildered-Sasuke was gripped by agony? By why-

Slowly Sasuke moved off and before he knew what he was doing, Naruto was stopping him, hands shooting out to yank the man down again until they were embraced like lovers, their position of intimacy shunning away all beseeching eyes, and gingerly Naruto's fingers slid off Sasuke, the memory of the velvet rough skin engraved into his mind.

"I'll stay here," said Sasuke eventually, voice in vain devoid of emotion.

"Here," echoed Naruto. "You're going to stay here to train."

That was a yes without a need to say it. Sasuke slipped off, sitting on the ground next to him in a way as vulnerable as the state he was in, as the state the situation was leaving Naruto's mind in.

"Eh…" That… was not to his liking. "… Whatever. Fine, stay here. No-one's going to care, anyway."

Sasuke did not move.

Yet Naruto's body did; it was an inward lurch forward that had him lose his balance in real life, for he stood up with the grace of a toddler learning to walk for the first time in life, and balance left him for real on his own, toppling sidewards and backwards until he realized-

Sasuke's back looked so alone and so small.

Naruto stood up, looked at the ground. "I'm sorry. Didn't mean to."

"Naruto, your apologies and guilty conscience are in no way related to me. You may commence with leaving even now, I can handle being on my own. Your absence will be of no consequence to me, so leave."

The hit of those words was non-existent.

Still, Naruto turned around, begrudgingly walking away. Sasuke was impossible. Sasuke had always been impossible and this was no news. And so screw him if he so wished, he had friends to go to and no prissy jerk to attend to around; without that asshole, no-one would bother with burdening him down and keeping his mood sour, no-one.

Bastard, just choke on it.

Sour, Naruto stuck his hands in his pockets and walked on. He needed to shower and quickly dress well for this occasion, needed to clean up as showing up all dirtied and covered in blood wasn't going to make anyone's incessant worry that Sasuke was massacring him all over again mellowed. What else-also, grab the present he'd brought-wait. Didn't get her any present.

… Okay, will manage without it.

Once at the highest point of the slope, seeing only the village plain and simple looming before him, Naruto stopped in his tracks.

His heart, even against his wishes, remained fervent.

Unwilling and stubborn, a grimace of annoyance on his face, he turned around.

What he'd expected to see was easy, what he did get to see was not, even if, in reality, it needed no cipher; Sasuke was still standing there, checking himself for injuries, a barely moving figure of nothing but loneliness in all its despicable and horrific truth.

Naruto… Felt a pang of guilt.

He watched the man, the wind that avoided him, that grass that fell meekly under his touch, succumbing to the feet that hovered above it before he even neared it – and the life that avoided him from afar.

Even when surrounded by so much life, this man and a pitiful creature in disguise was still but an animated corpse with strings attached, growing to the skies, then turning around the corner to make the hasty beeline for a few folks in the Hokage office; Tsunade, he suspected, unwillingly held onto one string, whereas the others were evenly redistributed over the whole of Konoha, into their bony and unsuspecting hands; they didn't even know how much power they held over him, how much of his future they decided and what share they'd had in his misfortune. Didn't know that to this moment the eye of a beholder was them and them only; they represented the legion and their presence too strong kept everything away.

He had no choice but to accept it. No choice but to prepare for a battle alone, to gather all their kunai and shuriken, to pocket them once more, envision a non-existent target and stab it repeatedly with suppressed hatred.

Because he had only and only that… In this whole universe.

Naruto stared.

Stared.

Stared.

Stared.

Sasuke – feeling it? – turned around.

He was reminded of that moment ages ago, when at the tender age of eight they'd met… He'd have thought their roles would have reversed, but he couldn't have been more wrong; in the decade, nothing… nothing… NOTHING… not even a thing… had changed.

We're still the abominations of their nightmares, Sasuke…

He didn't know and wouldn't know.

Only, he understood… That he was running, running back feet carrying him there and body losing ground under it as he jumped in the air gracefully and like a cat famished and starving but also starved for affection-

-and the other reacted on instinct and not knowing a thing as well, whipping around and lifting a hand to deflect the incoming attack, to throw him off and have Naruto land a few feet away.

Then stunned silence arrived and both may have been appalled.

Sasuke dropped the posture of defense, anger in his face.

Naruto. Just did not care. He bent down, quickly snatched a kunai lodged in the ground he glanced nearby, twirling it in his fingers and flexing his neck side to side, stalking towards the dark-haired, certainly flabbergasted in a repressed and detached sense – male.

One cheeky foot away from him, he stopped, a filthy rueful grin on his face. "So, I guess aerial attacks won't work either, eh?"

"What do you think you're doing?"

"Sparring?" The grin widened.

Sasuke would have none of that. "You're an idiot if you believe I require your presence. It will ease me to be rid of you."

"Sasuke, Sasuke. Tsk, tsk, tsk." Naruto shook his finger, smile blissful. "You know what you lack? Hatred, my friend."

At once, Sasuke's entire demeanor changed for reasons Naruto didn't understand, yet rather than wait to see it unfold, he lessened on the mocking scrutiny and gave the other a sheepish, grieving smile. "And I like that."

"Like." A hiss incoming-

"Yeah. Like. You're still an ass, but you're a likeable ass."

Sasuke scoffed, a haughty smirk caressing his lips. "And what exactly is that supposed to mean?"

"Well, I'm staying."

"Your friends need you."

"They need me as much as they need a good kick in the chin. Or! That huge ass of a tree over there rammed up their-"

-thank god for Sasuke not letting him finish. "Enough. I told you. I don't need you here, Naruto. I don't need you either, understand."

"Understand and don't care. Gonna spar again, ass, or should I make you even more likeable in my eyes?"

It was a stir. Just a stir in Sasuke's eyes, something… loosening up, yes, the gears slowing down, halting their glorious comebacks, steam evaporating and dissipating into thin air and the expression on Sasuke's face melting away to turn that likeable ass into just likeable.

"They-…" His shoulders tensed and subsequently relaxed, blood surging to all the right places and bringing heat into his face and – smile, because he was smiling; just tenderly curling the lips, coy and peeking over at Naruto with dignity unperturbed and all safely tucked and hidden and all that and much more and some some some other and other and other ands-

-because it was heart-warming. And confusing.

Warmth did, indeed, swell in Naruto's chest.

The kunai Sasuke had had so carelessly in his hands before met the firm touch of his palm and ghosted over the tanned skin on Naruto's neck, sharp blade kissing the sensitive flesh.

"They will, you are aware, assume I'd killed you in your sleep."

Filthy grins thrown all around indeed; Naruto's could only widen. "As if, ass. You could never get me."

"Hmp, there will be a day when you will regret those words, Naruto."

His chest hurt. He wanted to say something-

-Sasuke, in a sense, beat him to it; he felt his eyes rest on the neck that had been wounded not long ago, and the dark orbs glistened.

Into the air, the surprising, smothering amount of regret lingered.

Naruto's eyes softened. "I'm staying here with you."

Sasuke's eyes met his. "Why?"

A challenge. A wrong challenge. Because… Is that right? Friends are not challengers.

"Because-"

Don't lie to me.

Sasuke seemed to say.

Don't lie to me. Don't pity me. Don't you dare do that.

And-

I'm sorry, Sasuke.

Naruto seemed to say.

Friends can pull off pity and lies as well as they can understanding and respect.

"I'm not going to leave you here all alone, not when I know I can fix that."

"Being a fixer, Naruto, can only do you bad in the future."

"I've had bad, I've had worse, I've had worst." With ease he mirrored Sasuke, lifting his kunai to the man's neck, like the loving lover's kiss. "I figured, as long it's a bad, worse and worst I've opted for myself, I can be as apt at handling it as I was at making the decision."

"You are still a fool."

"I know."

By the smallest of frictions, Sasuke's eyes widened.

Like a kicked animal, Naruto smiled. "I know."

A moment of long, heavy silence… yet the silence turned pleasant and light and then-

"…Do it."

Sasuke's tender voice broke the curse of that silence, piercing through…

"Stay with me, Naruto."

Naruto's hand dropped the kunai. Sasuke's did, too.

No weapons. No weapons for the first time.

Friends, after all, did not need weapons to fight each other. They knew best how sharp emotions could be, sharper than common sense and all logic.

Sasuke stepped back.

Naruto did, too.

A few more feet that separated them.

Then.

At once.

Secret smiles on their faces, they charged.

Behind their backs, the lazy afternoon sun refused to set down.

Is it just me, Sasuke, or are you really smiling at me right now?

In darkness, crimson eyes and slit pupils shone.

"Naruto… You fool… What are you doing… why… Naruto… will you not listen to me… why silence me, you little fool… this thing, I say… what you have just continued, resumed in, that action wretched and cursed, that jaded act of love… what you are doing right now, listen, relying on, hoping for… it is not a thing you wish to happen, not a thing meant to happen in this world… should you keep hoping for it, it will and it will, just as well… Heed my warnings, you fool, and don't turn deaf to my words, don't ignore my warnings, don't be an idiot, don't be a suicidal foreboding wreck."

Naruto.

Naruto…

"Naruto, it will destroy you."

)) ~it_has_come_to_this_too far_soul_to_be_sole~((

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, but the story idea is mine alone.

A/N: :| Well. I am late. But! Not given up, obviously. I'll probably update once a month from now on, simply because I've gotten incredibly lazy and have far too many things to cater to. Yet, yet! Not giving up. EVER. I love writing this too much and think of it every day. My Sasuke and Naruto, my rookie nine and this story are all far too precious for me to discard them because of any vice, so Sole is not discontinued, Sole will be continuing. I know, I know, it's tough coming back to a fic you've not seen updated in ages, less alone understanding everything with perfection because of the time that's passed since last update. I get that, but-? Patience, please? Sole has still much to say and we're still many steps away from figuring out what, who and why… But… Soon, the moments I fear the most will come. Thinking about it now leaves a terrible throbbing ache in my chest…

Of course! The reviews. I got them. They were fantastic, haha. I really enjoy reading those no matter what foul a mood I am in so… xD Please, send them? Write, write, wriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiite! Long or short… Well, I tend to nom on long reviews, they are delicious x: But, wait, this is actually me saying- thank you guys all very much for reading this and reviewing. Thank you

Now this chapter is, as per usual, ridiculously long. I seriously don't know how I do it; I started writing it, thinking I'd be lucky to hit 10 k, and suddenly almost 19 k x_x Haha, but I had tremendous fun writing each scene, so I'm not complaining. Many things again happened, and someone finally noticed… Hinata, girl, you're awesome. Kiba is brave. Shino, dear lord… I love that guy, yet he gets so little screen time. Shame, shame.

But enough of ranting… I'll just jump onto the next chapter and start writing!

Do you like, do you hate? What do you think? ; )

In next chapter, Naruto is one fine Hokage, and Sasuke one fine puppeteer and the world a witness to their power; finally, it is revealed what makes them so dangerous and lethal. NUMBERs grow in numbers and while the glorious, long-anticipated return is glorious AND long-anticipated, it is not forever and some things are just meant to leave…

Rating: PG-13 for themes, blood, swearwords, and sexual undertones.

Thanks for reading. Remember to R&R! x)

If you have any questions, add them in a review or message me personally :)