Haunted High Chapter 21
A/N: Sorry about this being a week late. Hope you enjoy it. Read and review, thank you!
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, or any of the characters or themes mentioned in this story.
…
No, not that dream again. Sasuke found his feet were moving on their own, down his hallway, and into his parent's room. Please oh god not this dream again. Dark shapes danced off the wall with each labored foot step. This dream wasn't a dream at all but a nightmare.
Sasuke's hand touched the door, and for a brief moment he thought he could pull his hand back, but to no avail. Soon the door was opened and the dark shadows that had been dancing across the hall flew through the small crack in the doorway.
Why was this happening to him again?
The door opened up the rest of the way even though he'd tried with all his willpower to pull his hand away and run. To cling to his sanity before this night was over. Even though he knew this was a dream he also knew he had no power over how it ended.
Why was this happening to him?
His feet carried him through the opening of the doorway and he stared forward. Sasuke was unable to turn away so he instead focused forward. The two familiar bodies lying upon each other, it was a grim scene, and one he had seen every night since it happened.
Why does it have to be like this?
"Only you can answer that question, brother."
Sasuke finally moved his sight from his parent's bodies to the perpetrator, the man that had killed them, and the only person Sasuke loved more than the two lying on the floor. His red eyes bore into Sasuke's tear filled onyx gaze.
This nightmare happened every night.
"Why," Sasuke's voice trembled. "Why would you do this, Itachi?"
"Sasuke," Itachi's voice was too low, not his own. "This is how all things end."
Tears filled up in Itachi's blood red eyes. They fell down his cheeks like two tiny rivers tracing the lines of his face. Sasuke still didn't know why he was crying that night.
How could someone do something so evil and then cry over it?
Sasuke's sanity was draining from him with every passing second. He looked up at Itachi again and saw wings grown from his back, not feathered wings no, these were darker and almost sinister.
They were the wings of the angel of death.
Itachi raised his blade far above his head. A beating symbol showed on his right shoulder. Sasuke closed his eyes as he always did but with the swishing of the sword came no pain. Maybe he'd died too quickly to feel the pain.
No.
When Sasuke opened his eyes he saw the blade jabbed straight through Itachi's own chest, straight through his heart. Sasuke ran toward his brother to catch him as he hit the floor.
A memory permanently burned in his memory.
"Itachi, why did you do that?" Sasuke's tears were now overflowing, "You can't leave me all alone. I can't handle this world alone."
Blood spurted from Itachi's mouth as he feigned a smile. "Sasuke, you have to live a normal life. This all ends with me."
"What ends with you? Brother, why did this happen?"
Those unanswered questions still burning in his mind.
Itachi raised his two fingers and tapped Sasuke's forehead. The light in his red eyes went out and the wings that had been protruding from his back withered away. Sasuke felt his world torn apart all in one night.
A world without his family, without his brother, and that was the world he now lived in.
It was an empty world in which he could never fill those voids.
…
Sasuke awoke in a cold sweat. His hand immediately went to his forehead. He wiped at it as he rose from his bed. Checking the clock, he walked towards the bathroom. It was a little over four in the morning. A great time to start a day, especially since there was little chance that he'd be able to get back to sleep now, and he really didn't want to live through that dream again.
More like a nightmare.
Sasuke washed his face in the sink and locked sight with his reflection. The bags under his eyes were nearly gone. He didn't need sleep really anymore. So used to waking up at this time, Sasuke could find something to do until he needed to go to school.
Sasuke stared at his reflection a little longer. With these permanent frown lines he was starting to look more like his brother every day.
"What the hell were you trying to tell me, Itachi?"
It was a question he'd thought upon every night since that one. Since the night his world changed forever. He separated himself from everyone else after that. Naruto, Kakashi, and even Hinata, the less they saw of him the better. He needed to be alone, deserved to be alone, that's what he'd learned from this event. Life wanted him to be alone.
Of course Naruto didn't let that happen. Neither did Kakashi. And Hinata… she came by his house every night the first month after it happened. She took care of his mother's flower bed, and even sent over some of her mother's cooking.
It wasn't long after that Hinata's mom had passed away too and the two fell out of contact for a while. It was also around the same time Sasuke started to see and fight monsters to vent his frustrations. He'd taken Itachi's sword and gone into the forest surrounding the town.
Everyone knew the stories about the forest surrounding them. They were filled with dangerous creatures; many believed this to be all myth, but that night Sasuke was determined to find out. After killing three ghouls, a creature that feeds upon any who enter its domain, Sasuke found he was outnumbered.
Accepting death, he raised his sword for one last battle to the death. The fight commenced for several hours before he was spent of energy and now fully accepting of death. The ghouls prowled the area around him before screaming and fleeing in the opposite direction. He was unsure of what happened until a light appeared behind him.
A face came with it, the friend of his fathers, Kakashi. He had been saved by Kakashi.
Kakashi walked over to Sasuke, who was lying on his back, and kneeled beside him.
"What do you think you're doing out here?" Kakashi asked.
Sasuke didn't know how to answer him. He didn't know the answer himself. The ghouls were too much for him but the fighting wasn't the only reason he'd gone out there.
"How'd you know to find me here?"
Kakashi looked around. "Well, I noticed the ghouls were acting very excited, and that could only mean they found some pry. Little did I know that that was you? You're just lucky I got here in time."
That was the first time Kakashi had saved his life and now looking at himself in the mirror he could hardly believe that he was that pathetic back then. He was a whiny brat, he'd refused Kakashi's help at first, and then he went back into the forest every night after that. Killing more and more of the ghouls and coming closer to death's door each night, and that was okay for him.
Sasuke and that point in his life didn't want to live. Not until he found something to live for again. His friends, the people that needed him to keep the creatures of the night from hunting them, and then there was Hinata.
The girl that fell from his life almost entirely on several occasions, but she was the only real constant in his life. She's been there since he was a little kid and she was still there. Hinata was always there. He knew he felt something for, and it seemed like she may have similar feelings, but that wasn't important right now.
Sasuke couldn't live a normal life until this all ended, the monster hunting, and Orochimaru chasing after them. The vampire group that killed a man at the festival, they would be a problem in the future as well. But he could feel like everything was coming to a head.
The end phase would soon be revealed.
…
"Dude, you look like crap." Naruto said as he entered Sasuke's living room.
"Good morning to you too, Naruto," Sasuke stifled a yawn as he reached for his bag.
They exited the house without so much as another word and soon were driving over to Shikamaru's house to pick him up. Of course Naruto did have a car but Sasuke never understood why he and Shikamaru wanted to ride to school with him in the morning. They lived close enough that it wasn't a problem but maybe Naruto only did it to annoy him.
As for Shikamaru, he just seemed too lazy to drive himself to school. And walking was so out of the question. At least they chipped in with gas… sometimes.
Pulling up to Shikamaru's house, Sasuke parked and opened the door. His sleep depraved eyes were already starting to look better as he looked into the mirror of his car. He looked awake enough to make it through the school day.
"I'll get Shikamaru and you can just wait here." Naruto said.
Sasuke didn't have to nod before Naruto was off. Like it would have changed anything if he'd gone along, they were almost late for school anyway and really needed to leave soon.
Soon Shikamaru and Naruto were walking toward his car. He greeted Shikamaru with a nod before getting in the car. They all buckled up as they made the short trip to school.
"Man, you look like crap this morning, Sasuke. What happened?" Shikamaru asked with the faintest of interest.
"Nothing happened, just some sleeping trouble." Sasuke said, keeping his eyes on the road.
"Was it a girl? Did you have a girl over and she kept you up all night?" Naruto asked with a wink.
The gesture, he completely ignored. "Did Kakashi dig up any info on the vampires that attacked us at the festival?"
Shikamaru looked over. "No, not yet, but we did get word that a new group has just made their presence known in town. They call themselves the Anbu and so far their motives are unclear."
Naruto stiffened in the back seat but Sasuke paid him no mind. "Anbu, that sounds familiar. Do they work with Orochimaru I wonder?"
"We're trying to get info on them as we speak but so far we have no leads."
Naruto moved uncomfortably this time. He was really getting on Sasuke's nerves at this point. Anything could set him off.
"Naruto, do you know something or are you just being an idiot back there?" Sasuke all but yelled at him.
"Well," Naruto laughed and rubbed the back of his neck. "I know that Sai, the new kid, is a member and that they tried to recruit me."
Sasuke almost slammed on the breaks but he could never do such a strange motion even if they were all alone on the street right now.
"Wait, when did this happen?" Shikamaru asked so Sasuke could focus on them not being late to school.
"It happened the night after the festival. I didn't think it was that important," Naruto said. "But if you need answers I'm sure Sai could help out with some convincing. Though, I don't know if you can trust the stuff he says. He's pretty persuasive."
"We need to tell Kakashi about this after school." Sasuke said as they pulled into the school parking lot.
…
After the first bell went off and Sasuke was seated at the back of the class again, his tiredness started to get the better of him. He couldn't fall asleep in class though, he was Sasuke Uchiha, and that was unfit manners for someone of his caliber to adhere to.
Ten minutes after that thought he was dozing off. Finally getting to sleep, Sasuke didn't dream this time, nor did he have a nightmare. It was a calm rest and the bell soon sounded cutting him from his comfortable sleep. The bell wasn't what woke him up though and it was Sakura that had pulled him from his happiness.
"Talk to me during lunch," she said before leaving for their next class. Yes he did have three classes with her, one with Ino, and two with Hinata. While he had exactly one class with Shikamaru and Naruto, which happened to be PE, his favorite class because he shoot off some steam by beating Naruto in pretty much anything.
Sasuke didn't even have time to respond before she was out the door. Picking up his bag, he headed for the next class and took a seat in the back.
Finally it was time for lunch and he'd been too interested in what Sakura had to say that he wasn't able to sleep. How she could annoy him without even being there, it was at Naruto levels sometimes.
Sasuke made his way from his classroom, ignoring the students heading to lunch, and walked out into the courtyard where they all used to eat together. Sakura was sitting on one of the benches and trying to enjoy the windy weather even if did keep blowing her skirt up.
The dress code at this school was ridiculous.
"So," Sasuke said as he sat down.
"I didn't know you'd be here so quickly." She replied, taking a bite out of her lunch. The wind tried to claim that too as it picked up every time she brought the food to her mouth.
"I need to know if this is important or not." Sasuke said, "And knowing how little sleep I got last night, this better be."
The irritation was in his voice but not strong enough to really drive home his point. Not that it would matter since Sakura was one of the best people at seeing right through him. She didn't really fear him either like a small population of the school did, the other half being the fangirls that loved him to death, literally.
Sakura put down her chopsticks. "Actually it is. It's about Hinata."
Sasuke arched an eyebrow. "What about her?"
"You like her don't you?" Sakura asked.
It was a strange question and one that he considered himself a lot. He did have feelings for her, that he knew, but whether they could have any type of relationship was a harder question to answer. Sasuke stayed silent and placed his hand on his chin.
"Look you don't have to say anything." Sakura said, "I already know you do and this conversation isn't about whether you do or don't, it's about what happened last Halloween."
"Can you get to the point?" Sasuke asked.
"I'm getting there. I know that you wiped her memory of the whole experience near the end, but she remembers, or she kind of does, and the first time when she was taken by Orochimaru you wiped her mind of that time too."
"I did."
Sakura looked down. "Well, I don't think you should do that anymore. I know that it's imperative that you keep your secret and all but you can't keep lying to her like this. Changing her memory, not telling her everything or anything for that, and I know that's its none of my business but you're both my friends and if you want it to work between you two, you need to tell her the truth, even if she doesn't believe you."
There was some truth to Sakura's words, he knew that, but telling her wouldn't help anything. They had to keep it a secret to protect the people around them. If that meant sleepless nights, long deadly fights with creatures that wanted to eat them, and spending much of their free time not dying. Well, that was his life now. Hinata was part of that, a bigger part than he wanted to admit, but she wasn't safe with him, was she?
But maybe he could keep her safe? Protect from everything this world threw at them, maybe Sakura was right about everything, and telling Hinata would be the right thing to do. Even if she doesn't believe a word he says.
"Maybe," Sasuke couldn't let her think she was right about the whole thing.
"Just consider it, and I need to go talk to Shikamaru now about a similar thing." Sakura smiled as she stood, Sasuke realized she'd finished her food in that small amount of time it took them to discuss that matter.
Sasuke's stomach got the better of him, so he stood and headed for the lunch room.
…
"Look, Ino," Shikamaru said with a light red gracing his cheeks. "I like you, and I think you like me too. Want to go out or something?"
"But, Shikamaru, we can't. Our families would disapprove because you're such a slacker and I'm so perfect in every way, and totally out of your league." Naruto said as he did his best Ino impression and raised his voice an octave.
Shikamaru punched him in the arm. "Idiot, she wouldn't say that… would she?"
"Probably not," Naruto laughed and rubbed his sore arm. "I just couldn't pass up an opportunity like this."
At that moment Sasuke chose to walk around the corner and find his two friends in the middle of another practice of sorts.
"Am I interrupting your guy's moment?"
"Shut up," Shikamaru said.
"I take that as a yes." Sasuke said turning to Naruto, "Did you let him down easy?"
"I tried but he punched me in the arm," Naruto rubbed his arm again. "I think I need to get out this relationship before it gets more abusive."
Shikamaru pouted and looked the other way, pretending to ignore them. This was a normal occurrence for them, especially when it comes to Shikamaru and Naruto. Not only that, but this would be the first time in months that the three were seen together at school. Usually they broke off to hang with individual groups.
Sasuke stuck to his friends Suigetsu, Karin, and Jugo. While Naruto hung out with Sakura, and Shikamaru was with Ino and Choji. They hardly ever hung out during school, but were always together afterwards.
"So are we done joking around because I have some info that might take us to the Anbu hideout?" Naruto said and pulled all the attention to him.
The three were on the roof of the school, the only place that was secluded enough for these kinds of meetings, and it was open enough that they would always know if someone tried to eavesdrop. With a blue sky and clouds floating along with the wind, they were in the best spot at the school for the moment.
"How'd you do that exactly?" Shikamaru asked.
"I have my ways," Naruto said.
"So you broke into Sai's locker and found something?" Sasuke leaned against the only wall on the roof.
"You make it sound so wrong," Naruto rubbed the back of his neck. "Anyway, I found some kind of book with notes about some meeting going on tonight at the mansion we went to with all the zombies in it."
"Wasn't that an abandoned hotel?"
"Like I can remember that," Naruto huffed. "Either way it sounds important. So what should we do?"
They both looked to Sasuke. When did he become the unofficial leader of this group? He could hardly deal with his Hinata problem at the moment. Not that she was a problem, but he was having problems, and they were related to her.
"We need to talk to Kakashi first." Sasuke pulled his cell phone from his pocket and sent a text to Kakashi. "We'll meet with him after school. In the meantime you two can go back to your confessions now."
Sasuke gave a wave and was down the stairs and back in the now empty hall. He had very little time before the bell rang for their final courses of the day. Like he could care less about that right now, he was already the top student in his year, and that was without even trying. School just came easy to him.
The hall would soon be filled with students coming back from the break and by the time that happened Sasuke would be out of there and back in class. He couldn't stand the crowds that this school had. Maybe a private school would have been better.
Sasuke went to his locker and opened it. It was filled with his books – the ones he barely used because he already read them – and pulled out a small notebook and placed it in his bag.
A soft hand touched his shoulder and he turned to the only girl who's touch didn't bother him. Her big eyes looked at him with a familiarity that could only happen between the two of them. A silent understanding of sorts, but something neither of them could really acknowledge.
"Hinata," Sasuke turned fully to her and closed his locker.
"Hey, can we t-talk for a moment?" She asked, looking down.
Sasuke didn't miss the slight red that was starting to consume her whole face. She was really cute when she got this embarrassed. That thought would have to go unsaid like many of the others.
"Class is about to start," Sasuke said.
"I k-know," Hinata looked into his eyes but turned from his gaze quickly. "How about we talk about it over d-d-dinner?"
Did she just ask him out?
"Over dinner," Sasuke tapped his chin. "I accept, I'll pick you up Friday at six."
Hinata smiled and walked away just as the bell rang. The shy little Hinata just asked him on a date. The thought brought a smile to his normally stoic face. If she had to ask him then maybe he wasn't moving quick enough. Not like he was planning on asking her out until after she found out the truth about him.
And a first date was not the best time to bring up that kind of thing.
He could always slip it into conversation casually. Because that wouldn't scare her off or confuse her. His ideas today just sucked, bad. There had to be a way to tell her properly and that was definitely a priority.
A sudden realization came to Sasuke and slapped him upside the head, not literally but it still hurt much the same. Friday was Valentine's Day.
...
After the meeting with Kakashi Sasuke, Naruto, and Shikamaru went their separate ways for the day. They were told not to take any further actions until they were certain of what to expect from the Anbu and what Orochimaru was up to since he's been so silent for so long.
It was a safe plan but they were all feeling restless and tired of playing in a game where they had no control. They seemed to be the pieces of a chess game that they couldn't beat while Orochimaru commanded each pawn.
Naruto seemed to be the most annoyed by the whole decision to sit idly by. He argued with Kakashi about going tonight but was turned down on that offer many times. Naruto looked angry but didn't argue with Kakashi, none of them ever did.
Of course they were angry as well, not just at Orochimaru, but the powerless feeling that lingered with each of their actions. The only thing they were allowed was a patrol around the town after dark, a routine mission for them, and it wouldn't help them to progress at all. Not in the master plan anyway.
Shikamaru said he had to go by the stores before heading home, Naruto had a similar idea and left, which left Sasuke with nothing to do. He should get something for Valentine's Day, but he was so bad at buying gifts.
For one of Naruto's birthdays he'd bought him a magazine subscription to something Naruto never even cared to look at. The blonde still thanked him but ever since then he decided he should leave the present buying to better suited people.
Now, what did he always get on Valentine's Day? A box of chocolates, twenty confessions, stuffed animals, hand written poems, and one year a puppy. Too bad he was more of a cat person. Would Hinata like any of those? How could he tell? He could just ask her but that would ruin any kind of surprise.
He started walking toward a familiar store.
What was Hinata into? What did she do in her free time? These easy questions simply eluded him. It was kind of sad that he'd never even thought to ask.
"Well she likes cats," he said aloud.
"Who likes cats?"
Sasuke stopped as he realized he was walking by the magic shop and Tamaki was outside sweeping in front of the store. She sent him a sweet smile along with her slightly interested gaze.
"Tamaki, sorry I didn't see you there." Sasuke said.
The girl frowned but quickly smiled again as she invited him into the store. He complied, not really having anything else to do, and shut the door behind them. Sasuke looked around the store and saw the Valentine's theme had taken over their shop as well.
"So who likes cats?" Tamaki asked again when they were sitting on a sofa in the shop.
"A friend of mine," Sasuke said.
"Are you trying to get her a Valentine's gift?"
"Hn," Sasuke answered and crossed his arms over his chest.
Tamaki rubbed the back of her neck. "So what kind of gift were you thinking? I mean every girl loves chocolates, or balloons, or a combination of the two, ooh and maybe a card with your handwritten confession in it?"
Sasuke was starting to second guess coming here. "I don't know what she likes."
"You said earlier that she likes cats. You could get her some chocolate and a card with a cute cat on it. That seems reasonable enough right?"
"What about a stuffed cat?"
"That could work too but it has to be really cute. Like beyond the cuteness of other cats, like cute times infinity, cute on a whole new level that she'll just fall head over heels in love with you after seeing this stuff animal."
Sasuke said, "I think that might be a little out of my reach."
"But like you used to say when we were kids, 'there's nothing an Uchiha can't do perfectly' and don't you still feel that way?"
"I think you're misquoting me again." Sasuke said, "I need to go but thanks for the input. I'll buy something before I head home."
Tamaki bowed to him as he got up to leave. "I'll help you out anytime. You should bring this girl over some time so grandma and I can meet her."
Sasuke nodded and was out of the shop a few seconds later. If he let her pick out the gifts who knows what he'd have right now. Cats are preferable to dogs, but not so excessively cute ones. He liked the ones that could basically live on their own without needing a human to take care of them.
Sasuke knew what he was going to get her now. And it has nothing to do with cats.
Sasuke went by another store before heading home.
…
By the cover of night Naruto and Shikamaru moved. The wind had calmed down a bit and Sasuke had bailed on their patrol for the night, claiming he had better things to do, but they both knew it was just so he could get ready for his date on Friday.
Naruto made Shikamaru wear the cloaks they'd made to hide their identities as they made their way to the old hotel.
"I don't know how you talked me into this." Shikamaru grumbled as they moved.
"Because I just have that ability, now come on, we need to move faster. I have no idea when the meeting starts." Naruto said, "All I know is that they're having a meeting tonight at the hotel."
The streets were bare but the hotel was a little ways out of town. It would take them a good while to get there. Not like they didn't have the time or anything. It wasn't the smartest idea he's ever had but he was too interested not to go.
After several minutes of walking they finally approached the tall building. They crouched behind a building a few feet away and watched as masked men and women walked into the hotel. How would they get in?
"Naruto, I have an idea, but we need to go when I say go, got it?" Shikamaru said.
"Yeah, sure, I'm right behind you."
A few more people passed on through to the hotel. A pair walked by the building they were hiding behind. Shikamaru motioned with his hand and Naruto knew exactly what to do. They grabbed the pair and knocked them out with a quick jab each.
"Which mask do you want?" Naruto asked.
"It doesn't matter to me, just hand me one."
Naruto looked at the two masks before handing over the dog one and placing the fox one over his face. They moved toward the entrance where a big man, the guard, stood and studied their masks.
"You two better hurry in, or you'll be late for Lord Danzo's speech."
Naruto nodded. "Thank you, we'll be on our way then."
Passed the guard were the dark halls of the hotel where they got attacked by the zombies. It wasn't really as scary now that the zombies had been removed but the dank atmosphere still brought a chill to his spine and made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.
Naruto and Shikamaru followed the other people as they made their way into a room that they soon recognized as the dining hall, or used to be. It was cleared out now, save for a few chairs, and the crowd of masked people all looked to the front where an elderly looking man sat. By his side was a masked man that Naruto recognized as Sai by the way he stood.
"That's Sai in the mask, standing by the old guy," Naruto whispered to Shikamaru.
"How can you tell?"
"Call it gut feeling." Naruto answered.
The meeting seemed to be starting as the group all bowed the instant a few more members in masks came to stand by the old guy. They must be his bodyguards, Naruto thought.
"Right this way, sir," The bodyguard came in followed by one more masked individual. The meeting seemed to be starting with the bodyguard joining the crowd.
The old man sitting on the stage stood and looked out over all the masks before him. He nodded to one of his masked guards and they vanished from sight, probably to guard the door now, or check the perimeter. That sounded like something Shikamaru would come up with.
"Welcome everyone," the old man said. "I know that many of you are new here tonight but do not worry about that. You will soon be able to experience some of what the Anbu has to offer. Once we obtain the power necessary to challenge Orochimaru then the true struggle of power can begin and everyone that is here tonight will receive a position in my army and once we win will be paid for their contribution accordingly."
He was building an army? Was a war about to break out between Orochimaru and the Anbu? If so, then where did they stand and what power were they talking about? There were too many questions for him to get by sitting in on one meeting.
"All the pieces are falling into place as we talk here tonight." The old man said but stopped when the guard he'd sent out before returned and whispered something to him. "In fact, I have just been informed that a few pieces are moving quicker than expected. They've taken the bait."
A pair of strong hands grabbed Naruto from behind and shoved him forward. He looked over to see Shikamaru being taken along with him. How did they find out? The two guards pushed them onto the stage and tied their hands behind their backs.
They were pushed onto their knees in front of the old man. The crowds stared up at them from behind their masks but it was impossible to tell if they were shocked or laughing. All emotion was covered so well. Their masks were forcibly removed and thrown off the stage.
The old man stepped forward and looked down upon them.
"Looks like you've changed your mind, Naruto?" The old man said with a laugh. "This could have been done the easy way you know. Oh, and you brought Shikamaru with you as well, now we're only missing one to make it a complete set."
"What the hell are you talking about, old man?"
He seemed to enjoy this more than he should. The old man walked around them as the crowd of masks stared onward. "I knew you would come tonight if I left the bait in an obvious place. I didn't think you would take so quick to it though, rather reckless of you both."
"And, Nara, you're supposed to be the representative of wisdom. Such a disappointment," The old man said. "But without the Uchiha our plans can't be completed."
"What do we have to do with your plan?" Shikamaru asked.
The old man smiled as he looked down upon them. "I can't do that. It wouldn't matter if I did tell you. This is destiny, and destiny cannot be changed."
"
"Lord Danzo," A masked figure appeared before them and spoke into the old man's ear. "Our guards have caught scent of a spy in the crowd and it isn't one of Orochimaru's."
Naruto could hear everything they said, even if they were whispering.
The old man, Danzo as they called him, looked around the room. "Sasuke Uchiha, show yourself at once. I know that you are here as well."
The crowded opened up to one masked individual standing in the center of the room. He was the one that came in last with the bodyguard, Naruto noticed. And that was Sasuke? Why did he follow them?
"So the last of the Uchiha has decided to grace us with his presence as well?" Danzo laughed as the cloaked man stepped forward. "Did you think you could get past us, we aren't like Orochimaru's group? It'll take more than this to get by our security."
The man pulled off his mask to show silver hair and he smiled at Danzo's look of confusion.
"Sorry, but you've got the wrong man," Kakashi said as he threw his mask across the room.
The guard standing the furthest to the right stepped forward and pulled out a sword. He cut the ropes binding Naruto and Shikamaru's hands before throwing his mask aside and raising a fighting stance against the other guards. Naruto could recognize that sword anywhere.
"So you did follow us, Sasuke." Naruto laughed as he rubbed his wrists, "Thanks for the help."
"I was wondering when you would show, Sasuke, I didn't expect Kakashi. A nice touch though." Shikamaru said.
"Just get ready to run. We got the information we came for." Sasuke said.
Naruto understood and jumped off the stage with Shikamaru just as the crowd ran at them. He kicked a few down and pushed his way through before the crowd got any bigger. Kakashi joined them in the brawl and fought so much better than they did. It was kind of cool to see.
Naruto turned to see Sasuke knock Sai back into the guards and start climbing a ladder that was near the stage. He was up out of sight before he could be chased. Naruto jumped through a small crowd blocking the door and was home free just as Shikamaru and Kakashi came out as well.
Kakashi turned to the doors, closed them, and placed a seal on them. "This will keep them inside for a few a minutes so we can make some distance between us."
Naruto nodded and started to run with everyone else. Sasuke appeared a few minutes later as he jumped from one of the top windows, still wearing the mask as he ran with them.
After they all made it back to Kakashi's house, and Naruto realized how out of shape he was even with all the sports he played.
"What happened back there?" Naruto asked between huffs for air.
"We outplayed them," Shikamaru said.
…
The day of Sasuke and Hinata's date was here. Sasuke had gotten them reservations at a restaurant he'd read had good food. The price didn't matter to him, he could afford it, he was the heir to Uchiha after all, and that guaranteed him some benefits.
He arrived at Hinata's house five minutes before they'd agreed to meet up and was stunned when he saw her walk out in the prettiest white sundress he'd ever seen. Sasuke could feel his cheeks getting red but he covered them with his hands and adjusted.
Sasuke was underdressed compared to her but she didn't seem to notice. She was more worried about what she looked like and avoiding the stares of others as they entered the restaurant. But Sasuke reassured her and got them seated the second they got their since he made a reservation.
Taking their seats, they both ordered and sat in silence. It wasn't an awkward silence, more of a comfortable one, but it wasn't just because they were both so non-talkative. Sasuke's mind was on the proceedings from the night before.
After Naruto was done chewing them out for not including him, and Shikamaru tried to keep up with the charade that he knew it all along, Sasuke told them the info he'd gotten from one of the guards while he was in the back.
Something big was going to happen soon, but they had no clue when.
"Sasuke, is something wrong?" Hinata's sweet voice pulled him from his thoughts and placed him back in reality.
"It's nothing," Sasuke said, "How do you like this place?"
"I-it's nice. I like it a lot." Hinata said and looked down, "Hey, I want to talk about something, if you don't mind."
Sasuke looked over her expression and the pink on her cheeks gave away her thoughts.
"Here goes," Hinata let out a strained breath. "I-I-I was wondering if there's anything between the two of us."
"Well there's a table."
"Sasuke…"
"Sorry," He said. "I got you something."
Hinata perked up at that. "You did?"
Sasuke reached down under the table and pulled out a thin but long box. "Here," Sasuke slid the box across the table.
Hinata picked it up and her eyes lit up as she opened the box.
"Sasuke, it's beautiful." She pulled out a necklace with two hearts hanging from the silver chain.
"I didn't know if chocolates would be appropriate." Sasuke said but didn't look away from her face. Her smile could light his way forever.
"This is the best gift I've ever received." Hinata smiled and put the necklace on. "How does it look?"
"Perfect," Sasuke said. "Happy Valentine's Day, Hinata."
…