Chapter 13: Ups and Downs

(Monday/Tuesday)

Sasuke runs through the physical tests as a healthy soldier from Sound, carefully ensuring he doesn't go all out as the leader of Taka.

Easily, he passes the obstacles in front of him, and more of a crowd develops after he finishes with each task. Kakashi clears him after Sasuke finishes climbing over a high wall and lands gracefully on his feet.

"Three minutes and twelve seconds. Congratulations, you've successfully set a new record in each course. Your father would be proud," the white-haired man calls out.

"I am." the firm voice comes from the front of the group which immediately quiets.

Sasuke fails to suppress a smile. It's a microscopic one, not caused by his father's recognition (or so he tells himself), but from the fact that he's beat his brother's old records. Winning feels good. More than good.

"Let's break it up and get back to work." Naturally, this comes from the boss.

The crew dissipates, chatting about his performance as they go. Sasuke, Kakashi, and Fugaku are finally left alone in the training room.

"You did good in there, Kid," the rare praise comes from his old teacher.

"Thanks," he wipes a drop of sweat climbing its way around his eyebrow with the back of his pointer finger.

"We should spar sometime."

Sasuke's hand slows for a moment at the man's serious expression.

"Definitely." He is looking forward to seeing Kakashi's expression when he's taken down a notch. It would be a good challenge. One he wasn't sure he'd win even if he gave it everything he had. His old teacher has always been a genius fighter and strategist. He didn't earn his position at USO through blood or connections, but skill. He's curious to see who would win.

He wipes his palm on is sweatpants in anticipation.

"It's going to have to be another time. Mikoto is expecting us for dinner soon. Go get cleaned up, Son."

Feeling an odd sensation in his chest at the title, he quickly goes to the shower rooms to wash off.

"What do you think?"

Sasuke ignores the rest of the conversation as he opens the door, in a rush to get home to the food.

Using an access pass to a private stall, he yanks off his gym clothes and turns the water to cold. After washing up, he towels himself off and walks back into the large room.

The two are still talking but clearly have moved onto a different subject.

"I'll have my secretary put in a work order for one of the elevators, then."

"I'm ready to go," he butts in, deciding that the conversation is mostly over.

They say their goodbyes to Kakashi and make their way to the house.

His mom welcomes him with a tight squeeze and asks him how his tests went. Itachi waits his turn and inquires about his day at school.

Sasuke answers their questions and manages to squeeze one in return as they settle around the dinner table.

"Do you think Tsunade could write me up an excuse so I can sit out of gym class?" He's determined to get this over as soon as possible before the embarrassment of asking such a question gets to him.

The occupants around the dinner table pause.

"Eh? Why can't you participate?" His mother blinks, setting down her fork.

Sasuke makes sure to finish chewing his lasagna before he answers. "I just don't think it's fair to the other students for me to participate."

He doesn't look at his brother but can feel the curiosity radiating off him.

"Since when has that mattered? I don't see why you would want to sit out of a class simply because you are more skilled. You're an Uchiha. You're always going to be more skilled." unsurprisingly, this comes from his father.

"Yes, but we played kickball today. I could have killed someone if I had kicked the ball into their face hard enough. What if I kick someone's knee out in a soccer match or break an arm during basketball? If we play baseball and there's an accident?"

"You have trouble… controlling your strength?" Itachi speaks up.

"Not exactly. I just haven't had a chance to play any sports since I've gotten stronger. It's mostly been combat and stealth exercises," he grumbles after a bite.

"Hn. Ordinarily, I'd say you should tough it out and learn to control yourself, but the academy is a dangerous place to do so. If you injured an important CEO's child, it would be bad for our business."

Ah, but of course. If a student who didn't have any money got hurt, the man would be okay with it. What a fucking hypocrite. He can see his brother agrees when the corner of his mouth twitches before Itachi goes for a glass of water.

"Should I call Tsunade to get a pass?" Mikoto bites her lip.

"It's not important enough that we need to get it right away, I just think it would be safer in the long run." Besides, most the of boys had already seen the scars on his back, so there wasn't a point to hiding it anymore. He could participate for a little longer, he'd just have to be careful.

"That's true but isn't it also your duty to watch Naruto? What if one of the other students takes the opportunity to injure the boy with sports equipment? P.E. can be dangerous. As you said, it wouldn't be difficult to cause an 'accident.' In fact, it would probably be the best time to go after him."

Of course, the Genius had to add his two cents. Not that Itachi is wrong, exactly. Gym would be a good time for someone to target Naruto.

Honestly though, if he sat close enough, Sasuke was confident he'd still be faster. He'd notice a difference in attitude, an expression change or even a muscle tense before anyone could attack the blond. He'd been trained in Sound to look for those things until it became second nature. It would be difficult to get a surprise attack past him.

He tells them so. "With my training and by staying close, I could be there faster than they could get to him. Besides, what if I injure the very target I'm supposed to be protecting?"

"Then you'd be a poor bodyguard, and I'd take you off the job so quick, your head would spin," is his father's frank reply.

Sasuke tries with all his might not to flinch.

"Dear, Sasuke's been through a lot. If he says he can do his job and keep the other student's safe at the same time, then I say we let him."

With that, Sasuke knows he's won. Except, having to admit a weakness to win, still feels like a loss. He shouldn't have said anything but...

It's better this way, he looks down at his empty plate.

Sasuke knows that not only what he said was true but eventually, his pride will get the better of him and he will blow his cover. The success of the mission is more important than how people look at him.

A hand drops on his shoulder and mildly starts him. Looking at his brother, it's like Itachi can practically read his thoughts. It's creepy.

"I suppose it's settled then," his father brushes the crumbs off his lap as he stands. "We'll get the pass for you so you won't hurt anyone in your class."

It sounds like an insult.

Itachi squeezes the hand, silently urging Sasuke not to say anything as the man leaves the room.

Mikoto gives him a knowing smile before standing. "We can pretend all we want but we Uchihas' aren't perfect, and you know what? That's okay. As my Grandmother always said, 'to do better is better than to be perfect.'"

"She's right. Erring on the side of caution is smart. You've promised to protect Naruto, and you've never failed before. I don't see you doing it now. Don't let Father make you feel ashamed for taking this route." With that, the man stands and leaves to clear his plate as well.

Sasuke is left alone with his thoughts and churning stomach.

The next day is what they call a 'B' day. He has the same classes on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday (A days) and a different set on Tuesday, Thursday (B days). So, he pretty much has to go through his first day all over again.

It starts off with homeroom, the announcements, and the avoidance which Sasuke knows won't last much longer as several girls are staring at him in curiosity. Naruto, however, seems content to ignore his presence for as long as he deems necessary. A twitch in his cheek indicates that as he lets out a fake laugh over something Sai says.

Scowling, Sasuke rests a chin on his hand as he turns to face the front of the class.

A whispered conversation to his left changes his thoughts completely.

"I heard Taka was cited again last night."

"Me too. I saw the news clip on my Facebook feed this morning."

Ah. It's about time. Sasuke was wondering when they were going to act. Before he left, his team promised to carry on their work in his absence. Suigetsu agreed to wear the Taka disguise as they did a few small missions trying keeping the peace and all that.

Not only did it scare the Sound rebels, but the sightings would also throw suspicion off Sasuke's identity. Anyone with half a brain would notice that once Sasuke showed up, Taka disappeared. It wouldn't be hard to put two and two together.

So, the team had planned to dress up and appear in public after his absence. Besides, it wasn't the first time one of the others had to put on the outfit and act as Taka.

"It was awesome! Did you see how he jumped off that building and took out those thugs?"

"Yeah, it was like, in two seconds or something wild like that!"

Apparently, the team was going overboard.

"They were lucky the witness already had the camera out. Otherwise, they would have missed the whole thing."

No, not luck. Sasuke is willing to bet Karin anonymously submitted the video. If they didn't want to be seen, they wouldn't be.

"I don't know why everybody likes that guy," a third student buts in.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, why does he always see the need to fight crime on his own? Don't they have police for that? I think he should mind his own business and let the police do their job."

Pfft, Sound's police force didn't do jack shit for their job. They were all in Orochimaru's pocket before the scientist went down. They patrolled more for him than they did for any crime.

"I don't know. I just think it's cool to see a real-life superhero."

His index finger twitches. He wasn't a goddamn superhero. If anything, he was the villain.

"He's doing more harm than good!"

Exactly. He had changed the country and stirred it up to the point of a civil war. In Sound, some do call him a criminal. His teammates tried to label him as a revolutionist. A few lives lost for the sake of bettering the country as a whole. The media speaks favorably of his actions which helped him sneak around, but at the end of the day, Sasuke unintentionally caused a war. People suffered and died. Now, he just has to do all he can to make up for it.

The bell for first-period sounds, cutting off any more conversation. Not that Sasuke wanted to listen to any more of their gossip anyway.

The students stand, gather their bags and depart for their next class.

Sasuke makes his way to Literature, which is just down the hall. Picking an empty seat, he settles down and gets ready for another lesson.

By now, he's getting lots of stares. And he doesn't think it has anything to do with his recent return this time, judging by the whispers.

"I heard he has a big gang tattoo on his back."

Oh. It's about his scars this time. Sasuke's a little surprised they weren't gossiping more about it in homeroom. The gossip mill can't be that slow, can it? Or, maybe, Taka was more interesting?

"Someone in the locker room said he got trapped in a burning building and barely made it out."

"No, Tatami(1) said he got ran over by a whole motorcycle gang."

He almost wants to roll his eyes at that last one. Like he'd still be alive if that happened.

The rumors thankfully quiet down as the teacher starts class.

After Literature, his next course is one for a foreign language. Naruto is there already and is sitting to the left side of the room with a few students Sasuke has never seen before. Makes sense that learning other languages would be one of the classes on the blond's schedule.

He sits on the opposite side and tries to catch up with the rest of the students.

The next time the bell rings, he stops at his locker before going to the cafeteria. It doesn't take long to put a tray together, and he spends a few minutes looking around the room. Different groups sit at the tables than the ones yesterday. Guess the lunch periods are different, too.

Sasuke finds an empty place by a window where he can keep an eye on Naruto (who sits outside). He powers through his lunch. Unfortunately, a large number of girls have joined him before he's finished. Honestly, he should be a little surprised at how fast they've gathered, but at this point, he's not. Ignoring their chatter and questions, he stands up and disposes of his tray.

Attempting to stay a little closer to the blond without disturbing his lunch this time, he steps outside, hands in his pocket. Many students are lingering out, taking advantage of the warm weather while it lasts.

He finds a quiet spot near a tree close to the group and gets out some homework.

Sasuke hears the approaching steps long before they reach him. What surprises him, is whose feet they belong to.

Looking up, it's strange to see that Shikamaru, of all people, approached him.

"Can I help you?" he speaks for the first time in hours.

"Not really. You're kind of in my spot."

"Your spot?" He raises an eyebrow. Before, the lazy teen looked quite cozy laying down on a bench with the group down the yard.

"Yeah," Shikamaru grunts as he sits down on the other side of the tree. "This is the perfect place to smoke. If I sit on this side facing the road, I can't be seen from any of the windows, and the lunch monitors don't bother to venture out this far."

Sasuke looks behind, and sure enough, several cigarette butts hide in the bushes that line the fence blocking off the road.

"None of those are mine. I'm not stupid enough to throw the butt in the bushes. Do you mind?" The brunette pulls out a Marlboro stick and a lighter from his pocket.

Sasuke closes the book and turns to look at Shikamaru before he replies. "Not if you let me have a puff."

"What? Can't get your own supply?" is the muffled response as he lights up.

"I can. I'm just not usually in the habit of smoking." It was somewhat true. Sasuke smoked a bit in Sound to blend in with the others. He'd taken advantage of using the smoke breaks to listen to gossip or to glean information. He'd say he's more of a social smoker than an addict. He had told himself that after he got back, the habit wasn't necessary anymore.

But seeing Shikamaru inhale is making his throat dry.

"Alright, just don't let anyone see you."

Scooting around the tree a little, he takes the Marlboro and notes that while it's not his favorite brand, it'll do. Bringing into his mouth, he takes in a deep breath, relishing in the familiar, yet foreign smoke filling his mouth and seeping into his lungs before he lets it all out.

Closing his eyes, he takes one more drag before passing the cigarette back over. Glancing back over to the yard, he lets the smoke out. His eyes catch Naruto's.

He looks aghast.

Sasuke almost chokes in amusement. Shikamaru apparently smokes all the time. Surely, it can't be too shocking to see someone else do it. What is he, still in elementary school?

"So, some people say you got your scars from a chainsaw fight, any truth in that?

He shoots a fierce look to the boy next to him. "What do you think?"

"That some people are terrible at picking up on social cues. Not me."

Sasuke's phone goes off in his pocket before he can respond.

Peering down, he fishes out the buzzing device. It's not a number he has seen before, but he recognizes Sound's area code. Why would they be calling him on this phone?

"I'm going to take this," he says for the sake of being polite.

"Troublesome."

His eyebrows furrow as he hits the 'accept call' and brings it up to his ear. "Who's this?"

A/N:

(1)-Tatami is from episode thirty-four. He is a Konoha ninja who helped preside over the Chunin exams.

Who saw that first part coming? Not something I wanted to do but it was necessary-you'll see.

And, can you believe it's a little after this story's one-year anniversary? I can't. Technically, it's almost two years but we'll only count since the time it's been posted. Thank you everyone for your support! It's what keep fueling the flames to write down the ideas that circle around in my head.

As usual, beta'd by me. Please don't judge too harshly.

Also, I have midterms next week (already). I should be studying. Or working. I have my own apartment that I have to pay for. *Runs off to grab a textbook and cry*

Disclaimer: Still don't own Facebook, or Naruto or Marlboros.

Next time: An interesting phone call with an old contact and Rock Lee makes his first appearance! ( I felt like I need an exclamation point to end a sentence that has anything to do with Rock Lee XD)