Thank you everyone, for your reviews! 8D Here's the next chappie for you all! I'm sorry I took so long to update...XD

Disclaimer: I don't own any Naruto characters.

Important A/N: This chapter starts after the Timeskip era thing. So, basically, everyone's about what, 17? Yeah 17-ish. 8P That's all...


Chapter Twelve

2½ Yrs. Later

"Where are you going?" "Hn. Out." I muttered to the Snake, walking out the door. I climbed the steps two at a time, making it out of the Sound's hideout and into the woods. I sighed and took off running. I couldn't take anymore of Kabuto's stupid lessons or Orochimaru's freaked up lectures. They were driving me insane. I needed a break.

I ran for about an hour before I came to the waterfall (A/N: same one where he and Naruto fought). I looked at it and snorted, taking off my shirt and sandals so that I only had on my black pants and my Kusanagi on my back still. I removed that and placed it at the edge of the bank for close reach in case anything should happen, then dove into the icy cold water. I opened my eyes and felt the cold burn at first then go away. I looked up at the sky through the water and watched the full moon waver. Then I resurfaced and breathed.

I treaded for a while then dove back under. I went as far down as I could before I had to go back up for air. I resurfaced again and took a gulp of air. I hadn't done this in a while. Swiping my bangs away from my eyes, I looked around. Everything seemed clear. No one ever followed me from the Sound village, as they all knew I'd come back. I wasn't going to run away. Why would I? I had no reason to.

I took one last look around before diving back in. I swam just under the surface, then swam a little deeper. Finally my air was gone and I resurfaced. A breeze blew and I shivered. It reminded me just how cold the water was. I got out and sat on the bank, dangling my feet in and looking up to watch the moon. I wasn't going back tonight, and possibly not tomorrow either. I had to get away from their useless nagging.

Finally I got up and started a small fire, almost completely dried by then and sat in front of it, thinking. It'd been a long time since I'd done this. An even longer time since I'd been here, at the waterfall. The last time I'd been here, it'd been fighting…Naruto. I growled at myself and shook my head. I didn't care about that dolt. And with all the things I'd done and said to him in between then, I knew he hated me too. That was good. After all, I'd broken all ties to Konaha—especially with the people in it.

I blew out a breath and put the fire out, lying down and staring at the sky. I fell asleep a while later, after counting stars.

Next Morning

Rustle.

I gripped my Kusanagi almost motionlessly. There was someone coming. But they hid their chakara, so I wasn't sure who. I'd hidden mine as soon as I'd woken. I sat up slowly and looked around. I couldn't see anyone. The sound was gone too. And their presence had disappeared. I was alone again.

I hesitated and waited about fifteen minuets before letting my sword go and setting it by the bank again, then diving in. This time I merely stayed in enough to wake me up then I got out. I shoved my bangs away from my eyes and picked my Kusanagi up again. They were back. Great.

I looked around slowly, searching the trees for any sign of movement. Nothing. I frowned. Then why did I feel someone's presence?

I turned to get my shirt and leave before something went wrong. I stopped again.

Behind me.

I turned quickly. And looked almost straight into sky blue eyes. I kept an expressionless face on as I studied him. He'd grown. His look hadn't really changed but he was almost as tall as me now. His blonde hair was still as spiky as ever and his blue eyes still shinned. The only difference was his clothes: black headband, black T-shirt with the same type of jacket he used to wear, only this one was black and crimson instead of orange. His pants were black too and his sandals. And he still wore that necklace the Fifth Hokage had given him.

I watched as he studied me and crossed my arms over my chest. His eyes finally came back to meet mine and where usually they would have turned hard, they stayed the same slightly surprised, yet non-threatening sky blue. I resisted quirking a brow. He wasn't blowing up?

"Hello Sasuke." He said softly, taking a step back so he didn't have to look up. I was still half a head taller anyway. "Hn." I turned to leave when he grabbed my arm, stopping me. I froze and stiffened.

"Wait." He said quietly, still holding onto my arm. I relaxed a little and felt his grip loosen as I did. "Wait. Don't…leave." I looked at him over my shoulder. He watched me and bit his lip. "Why?" I asked. I couldn't help it. "I just…" I sighed and went to jerk my arm away from him. He tightened his grip again and I didn't. "Stop. I don't want to fight you." I snorted and asked, "What do you want then? I've told you before, it's useless to attempt to bring me back. I've also shown you before that I no longer care about trying to spare your life. So what do you want, if it's not to attempt that?" "I just…I don't know. I'm not here to try to retrieve you. If I was, I'd have others with me, you know that. Sakura would be here." "Then where are your friends?" "No one knows I'm here." "Why are you here?"

Naruto sighed and shrugged. "I don't know. I just felt like coming. I haven't been here since…" he trailed off and I shrugged. "If you have no reason to be here, then go back." "Why are you here?" "That's none of your business." "…I guess not." I sighed and asked, "Are you going to let me go or not?" He hesitated before slowly letting me go and taking a step back. I got my things and turned to look at him. His eyes fell as he realized I was leaving. I hesitated before nodded at him. "Good-bye Naruto." "Good-bye Sasuke…" he whispered and I ran off into the woods leaving him behind.


Alrighty then, there's chapter 12. :) How was it? Chapter 13 coming a lot sooner than this one did, lol. XD

-- Miah-Chan